History of Wrestling in Nigeria

Our history

History of wrestling in Nigeria

The history of wrestling became popular in Nigeria as a competitive Olympic sport around the 1980s after the establishment of the wrestling federation. Still, it has long existed as a local sport in the country.

Some pioneer wrestlers, such as Michael Okpala, always known as Power Mike, the Late Michael Bamidele, Maman Zaria, Ben Lion Heart, and Power Uti, made the country recognized in the world wrestling through their ceaseless efforts and abilities.

This Nigerian wrestling hall of fame has showcased the country at international tournaments such as the Africa Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics. They made names and created a history that has continued to be a reference to date.

Hardcore Wrestling Academy was later introduced in Nigeria to operate under the federation. It was formed in Onitsha, Anambra state, to bring up able-bodied youths interested in the game of wrestling who can stand out to represent the country in the future.

In 2014, Odunayo Adekuoroye, a Nigerian female wrestler, won gold in the women’s 53kg at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, beating India’s Lalita Sehrawat, on a day when Aminat Adeniyi also won gold for Nigeria (Ifeoma Nwoye had become Nigeria’s first female Commonwealth wrestling champion in 2010). Adekuoroye went on to win Commonwealth gold again in 2018 and 2022; in the women’s 57kg final of 2018 she defeated India’s Pooja Dhanda to win a gold medal for Nigeria.

Recently, in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Blessing Oborududu and Odunayo Adekuoroye were both added to the medal table as 2018 gold medallists. Oborududu won her gold in the women’s 68kg wrestling freestyle event, while Odunayo Adekuoroye won in wrestling women’s 57kg freestyle.

Also, during the Africa Wrestling Championships held from 11th to 17th February 2018 at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, the Nigeria team won 23 medals (15 gold, 5 silver and 3 bronze) to top the medal table.

Nigeria’s gold medallists included Mercy Genesis, Bose Samuel, Ifeoma Nwoye, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi, Hannah Rueben, Blessing Oborududu, Ogbonna John and Ekerekeme Agiomor.

Many countries, such as Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Algeria, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Egypt, Madagascar, Uganda, and the Central Africa Republic, participated in the competition.