As Nigeria is gearing up to host over 400 armwrestlers from over 20 African nations at the 14th African Armwrestling Championship in Abuja, July 23-27.
The spotlight is on armwrestling, a sport that could be a game-changer for Nigeria’s continental success.”
Read Also: Samuel Ikpea Launches Afrikano Football Club, Shares Vision For Grassroots Football
At the 13th All-African Games held in Ghana, Team Nigeria’s armwrestlers were the surprise heroes—bringing home a powerful 13 medals, including: 4 Gold, 2 Silver and 7 Bronze respectively.
This contribution was instrumental in securing Nigeria’s overall second-place finish, edging out South Africa and showcasing armwrestling’s huge potential for delivering podium glory.
According to Engr. Samuel Jackson, President, Nigeria Armwrestling Federation, the sport is just scratching the surface of what’s possible:
“At the last Games, we fought hard and gave Nigeria 4 golds. But here’s the real story—armwrestling had 28 gold medals up for grabs. If we prepare properly, we can sweep the board at the next Games in Egypt. That’s the future we’re working towards.”
Hon. Adeboye Adeyinka, Chairman of the LOC and SSA to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, echoed the urgency and opportunity:
“The strength, talent, and commitment in Nigerian armwrestling is massive. With more support, we could easily target 28 gold medals next time. It’s not a dream—it’s a strategy.”
Currently, 132 Nigerian athletes are in camp ahead of the Abuja championship, backed by increasing government and private support.
With over 400 athletes and officials expected for the continental showdown, the championship is shaping up to be the largest and most impactful in African armwrestling history.
As Nigeria positions itself as a dominant force in the sport, and it’s clear: this sport is about more than just strength – it’s about national pride, opportunity, and unlocking Nigeria’s potential to dominate African sports again.
