Wrestling · Olympics & Games
Olympics, Commonwealth and African Games
Nigeria’s wrestling medals at the biggest Games.
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Checked 30 September 2026
Commonwealth Games
Wrestling is one of Nigeria’s best Commonwealth Games sports. Nigeria has won 49 wrestling medals (12 gold, 13 silver, 24 bronze), sixth on the all-time table, with three golds at each of the last two Games. Wrestling was not on the reduced Glasgow 2026 programme.
| Games | Medal | Wrestlers |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 Brisbane | Bronze | Amos Ojo (48 kg), Augustine Atasie (62 kg) |
| 1994 Victoria | Gold | Jacob Isaac (48 kg) |
| 1994 Victoria | Silver | Ibo Oziti (68 kg), Victor Kodei (90 kg), Bidei Jackson (+100 kg) |
| 1994 Victoria | Bronze | Enekpedekumoh Okporu (82 kg), Christian Iloanusi (100 kg) |
| 2002 Manchester | Silver | Tebe Dorgu (60 kg) |
| 2002 Manchester | Bronze | Fred Jessey (66 kg), Sunday Opiah (74 kg), Sinivie Boltic (84 kg) |
| 2010 Delhi | Gold | Sinivie Boltic (96 kg), Efionayi Agbonavbare (Greco-Roman 84 kg), Ifeoma Nwoye (women 51 kg) |
| 2010 Delhi | Silver | Ebikewenimo Welson (55 kg), Talaram Mamma (Greco-Roman 120 kg), Blessing Oborududu (63 kg) |
| 2010 Delhi | Bronze | Romeo Joseph, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Lovina Edward, Tega Richard, Ifeoma Iheanacho, Hellen Okus |
| 2014 Glasgow | Gold | Odunayo Adekuoroye (53 kg), Aminat Adeniyi (58 kg) |
| 2014 Glasgow | Silver | Ebikewenimo Welson (57 kg), Andrew Dick (86 kg) |
| 2014 Glasgow | Bronze | Amas Daniel, Sampson Clarkson, Melvin Bibo, Ifeoma Nwoye, Blessing Oborududu, Hannah Rueben, Blessing Onyebuchi |
| 2018 Gold Coast | Gold | Adekuoroye (57 kg), Adeniyi (62 kg), Oborududu (68 kg) |
| 2018 Gold Coast | Silver | Melvin Bibo (86 kg), Blessing Onyebuchi (76 kg) |
| 2018 Gold Coast | Bronze | Bose Samuel (53 kg), Ebikewenimo Welson (57 kg), Amas Daniel (65 kg) |
| 2022 Birmingham | Gold | Mercy Genesis (50 kg), Adekuoroye (57 kg), Oborududu (68 kg) |
| 2022 Birmingham | Silver | Ebikewenimo Welson (57 kg), Hannah Rueben (76 kg) |
| 2022 Birmingham | Bronze | Esther Kolawole (62 kg), Ogbonna John (74 kg) |
African Games
At the African Games Nigeria is the team to beat: first on the wrestling table in 2015 and 2019, and in Accra its women won every freestyle gold on offer.
| Games | Nigeria’s medals | Golds |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Brazzaville | 1st: 8 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze | Amas Daniel, Melvin Bibo, Soso Tamarau, Emmanuel Nworie, Mercy Genesis, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi, Blessing Oborududu |
| 2019 Rabat | 1st: 7 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze | Amas Daniel, Ogbonna John, Soso Tamarau, Sinivie Boltic, Mercy Genesis, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Blessing Oborududu |
| 2023 Accra (2024) | 2nd: 6 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze | All six women’s freestyle titles: Genesis (50), Christianah Ogunsanya (53), Adekuoroye (57), Esther Kolawole (62), Oborududu (68), Hannah Rueben (76) |
Olympic Games
Nigerian wrestlers have competed at the Olympics since the 1960s. The breakthrough came at Tokyo 2020, when Blessing Oborududu won silver.
| Games | Nigerian wrestlers | Best result |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Rio | Amas Daniel, Soso Tamarau, Mercy Genesis, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi, Blessing Oborududu, Hannah Rueben | First-round exits |
| 2020 Tokyo | Blessing Oborududu, Ekerekeme Agiomor, Adijat Idris, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi | Oborududu silver (68 kg) |
| 2024 Paris | Oborududu, Adekuoroye, Christianah Ogunsanya, Esther Kolawole, Hannah Rueben, Ashton Mutuwa | Oborududu 5th; Adekuoroye quarter-final |
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Wrestling in Nigeria
Africa’s wrestling powerhouse.Read more
History of wrestling in Nigeria
From village contests to Power Mike and Olympic silver.Read more
Nigerian wrestlers
Oborududu, Adekuoroye, Genesis, Igali and more.Read more
Blessing Oborududu
Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medallist.Read more
Odunayo Adekuoroye
Three Commonwealth golds and four world medals.Read more
Power Mike
Michael Okpala, Nigeria’s wrestling legend.Read more
Daniel Igali
Bayelsa-born Olympic champion.Read more
Contact the NWF
Nigeria Wrestling Federation.Read more
Quick answers
Wrestling results: quick answers
How many Commonwealth Games wrestling golds has Nigeria won?
Twelve, from Jacob Isaac in 1994 to Mercy Genesis, Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu in 2022. Wrestling was not on the Glasgow 2026 programme.
How did Nigeria do in wrestling at the 2023 African Games?
Nigeria won 6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze, including all six women’s freestyle titles.
What was Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medal?
Blessing Oborududu’s silver in the women’s freestyle 68 kg at Tokyo 2020. She won three bouts before losing the final to Tamyra Mensah-Stock of the USA.