The 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament kicks off in Abuja from March 6 to March 8, 2024, at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, marking a significant milestone as ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary. This highly anticipated event will see athletes from 11 of the 12 ECOWAS member states competing for a substantial total prize pool of $24,000.
With a dynamic lineup of 55 athletes, including 33 male and 22 female wrestlers, the tournament promises fierce competition as participants face off in both team and individual events using a round-robin format. Each participating country will field a team of five athletes, comprising two female wrestlers and three male wrestlers, showcasing the region’s diverse wrestling talent.
Amb. Francis Njoaguani, ECOWAS’ Director of Youth and Sports, elaborated at a press conference, detailing the weight categories for the tournament. Female wrestlers will compete in the 65kg and 75kg categories, while male wrestlers will take to the mat in the 85kg, 100kg, and 120kg categories.
The prize breakdown for the team event is as follows: the winning team will receive a $10,000 cash reward, with the runners-up taking home $6,000 and third place earning $3,000. In the individual categories, prizes will range from $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second, and $1,000 for third.
This year’s tournament is particularly special, as it marks the first time Nigeria will be hosting the event; previous tournaments have been held in Senegal and Niger.
Niger, who won the last edition on home ground and are the defending champions of the competition, will not field athletes for this year’s event after pulling out of the ECOWAS body.
Ikana Mbora, a Deputy Director at the National Sports Commission (NSC), expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the tournament and highlighted the NSC’s collaboration with ECOWAS. She assured participants that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure a memorable and successful event.
As anticipation builds for this exciting showcase of athleticism and national pride, the 13th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament is set to become a landmark event in the region’s wrestling history, uniting countries in a spirit of competition and camaraderie while commemorating ECOWAS’s legacy.
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