Nigerian Wrestlers Prepare for 2026 World Championships

Nigeria's preparations for the 2026 World Wrestling Championships have intensified with an open camp held in Oklahoma, United States, ahead of the championships scheduled from October 24 to November 1 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The camp was sanctioned by Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, to allow foreign-based and home-based Nigerian wrestlers with valid US visas to train together and compete against quality opposition.

The initiative included athletes studying in the US and Nigerian-born athletes eligible to represent the country. The camp provided exposure to competitive environments through dual meets against NCAA Division I wrestlers, allowing the coaching crew, led by Women’s Wrestling Head Coach Purity Akuh, to identify technical deficiencies and assess athletes under competitive pressure.

Following the open camp, the wrestlers transitioned to a closed camp focused on correcting mistakes observed during the dual meets, emphasizing technical and tactical improvements necessary for success in Kazakhstan.