Nigeria’s female wrestling team dominated the African Senior Wrestling Championships for the third consecutive year, swiping nine medals in ten weight categories while topping the gold medal chart in Hammamet, Tunisia.

Team Nigeria arrived Tunisia on Thursday despite the financial odds before the team and settled down for the draws on Friday.

In the draws, Nigeria was pitted against established opponents from Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Chad but the defending champions put up a good showing clinching two bronze, two silver and five gold medals.

Mercy Genesis won Nigeria’s first gold medal in the women’s 50kg by beating Algeria’s Yanilaoui before Commonwealth gold medallist, Odunayo Adekuoroye showed class in the women’s 57kg to win Nigeria’s 2nd gold medal by defeating Essone Tiako of Cameroon by pinfall to retain her title.

Sunmisola Balogun and Blessing Oborududu joined the fray by beating their Burkina Faso and Senegalese counterparts respectively to increase Nigeria’s gold tally before Blessing Onyebuchi outclassed Ayari Rehim of Tunisia in the 76kg weight to gift the West African country their fifth gold medal of the night.  

Unfortunately, Esther Kolawale could not compete in the 55kg weight due to an injury she picked from a knock in training a day before the tournament.

Ifeoma Nwoye and Rosemary Nweke won bronze in the 59kg and 53kg weights respectively while Hannah Reuben (72kg) and Aminat Adeniyi (62kg) clinched Silver.

Tunisia and Egypt ended the tournament in second and third place place respectively.