Customs hails team Nigeria’s 4-gold start at African wrestling

By Fredrick Ameh

The Nigeria Customs Service has praised Team Nigeria for an outstanding performance at the African Wrestling Championship, where the country clinched four gold medals in the women’s category on the opening day.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, commended the athletes for their discipline, resilience, and commitment to national pride.

He described their performance as a reflection of Nigeria’s spirit of excellence on the continental stage.

Leading the medal haul was Esther Kolawole, who delivered a dominant 10–0 victory over South Africa’s Katelyn Swan in the 62kg category, securing her fifth African title.

Earlier, Ogunsanya Christianah set the tone with a 7–1 win against Ivory Coast’s Nogona Bakayoko in the 53kg division. Jumoke Adekoye followed with an 8–4 triumph over Algeria’s Achouak Tekouk in the 57kg category, while Hannah Ojo secured victory in the 73kg division with a composed 3–1 win against Cameroon’s Pelagie Wilita.

In addition, Hannah Reuben earned a silver medal after a strong performance against Benin’s Kawiyatou Issifou.

Reacting to the results, Adeniyi described the moment as a proud one for the nation, noting that the repeated playing of the national anthem underscored the team’s dominance.

“It is a proud moment for Nigeria to witness such exceptional performances. These athletes have demonstrated the values of hard work, discipline, and patriotism,” he said.

The strong showing by Team Nigeria highlights the country’s continued dominance in African wrestling and reinforces its position as a powerhouse in the sport.