Abuja: Senegal defeated hosts Nigeria 4-1 in a pulsating team final to win the 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament in Abuja on Saturday evening. The victory marked a significant achievement for Senegal as they showcased their dominance in the regional wrestling scene.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the three-day wrestling event held at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium was part of activities to celebrate ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary. The tournament featured 11 West African nations, with traditional wrestlers competing fiercely for regional supremacy.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Senegal secured Gold in the team event, while Nigeria took Silver, and Benin claimed Bronze after defeating Guinea. Defending champion Niger and Burkina Faso were notably absent from the competition following their recent exit from ECOWAS.
In the thrilling final, Nigeria initially showed promise but struggled against Senegal’s seasoned wrestlers. Victories for Senegal came in the 66kg, 86kg, 100kg, and 120kg weight categories, with Nigeria managing a solitary win in the 76kg division.
Meanwhile, Benin showcased their strength by dominating Guinea in all weight categories during the third-place match. Despite Senegal’s overall team victory, Nigerian wrestlers made notable individual achievements.
In individual categories, Ebipatei Lienbofa of Nigeria won gold in the 66kg division after defeating Senegal’s Safietou Goudiaby, and Ebi Bigos thrilled the audience with a win over C´te d’Ivoire’s Youin Amy in the 76kg final. Senegal’s Ngagne Sene delivered a standout performance in the 120kg final, overpowering Guinea’s Gino Nitehala to secure his country’s triumph.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, along with other top sports officials from the region. NAN reports that the ECOWAS Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports officially adopted African wrestling as an ECOWAS sport in September 2000, aiming to popularize it for regional integration and potential inclusion in the Olympic Games.
African wrestling, known as Laamb in Senegal, Boreh in The Gambia, and Kokowa in Nigeria and Niger, remains a traditional style of West African folk wrestling with growing recognition.