Daniel Igali, the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, has praised the female wrestlers as they won gold medals.
He also defended the male athletes who were all making their first performance at the competition.
the male wrestlers were unlucky in their first African Games outing. While the female wrestlers put on a dominant display winning six gold medals at the six events.
Blessing Oborodudu, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Mercy Genesis, Christiana Ogunsanya, Hannah Reuben and Esther Kolawole all won gold medals on Sunday.
While on Monday ,their male counterparts added three silver and two bronze medals to the tally for Nigeria’s wrestling team at the Games.
Among the females, Ogusanya was also a first time performer, but she expressed determination in claiming the top prize.
As in the male event, Egypt continued their habit of taking gold medals from Nigerians at the African Games. four of the medal winners were defeated by Egyptian
Simeon Enozumini also clinched a silver medal after suffering defeat to another Egyptian Gamal Mohammed in the 57kg final athletes. Ashton Mutuwa lost 12-0 to Youssif Hemida of Egypt in the 125kg final to settle for the silver medal.
Stephen Izolowon the last silver medal in the 65kg event following a 10-0 loss to Mourad Omar of Egypt.
Harrison Onovwiomogbohwo In the 86kg event, settled for bronze after a walkover against Egypt’s Ahmed Khaled while Braveman Oyeinkeperemo was declared a bronze medal after losing his 74kg fight against Mukendi Andy of Congo.
Igali said that the performance of the female athletes was as a result of hard work and dedication.
“I’m so excited for these girls because they deserve it. They worked hard enough and have been adequately rewarded.
“The male team is still very young as I am just setting them up. None of them have been to the African Games before and for the first time, they won medals and three got to the final, they have made me very proud.
“I didn’t expect them to win any medal or even get to finals, so I am very proud. I expect that in the next three, four years if they continue on this trajectory, they will become gold medallists for Nigeria,” Igali said.”
