Team Nigeria Wrestlers Begin Closed-Door Camp For 2026 Championships

Nigerian wrestlers have begun closed-door camping ahead of the 2026 World Wrestling Championships, scheduled to hold in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation said in a statement that the camp is taking place at two venues in Bayelsa and Ondo states, and is expected to allow the wrestlers to intensify training and sharpen their technical and tactical preparations.

The Chairman of the NWF Technical Committee, Akuh Purity, commended the federation’s President, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for approving the programme. Purity, who is also head coach of the Nigerian women’s wrestling team, said the decision showed the federation’s commitment to giving the athletes the preparation and support they need to compete effectively at the global event.

He said the closed-door arrangement would help athletes and coaches maintain maximum concentration as they work towards peak performance.

Purity praised Adeniyi for his keen interest in the development of wrestling and for prioritising the welfare of Team Nigeria’s athletes ahead of major international competitions.

“The camping exercise would further strengthen the wrestlers physically, technically and mentally,” he said.

He also acknowledged the support given to foreign-based Nigerian wrestlers, who have already benefited from pre-tournament camping and other preparatory arrangements.

“Such initiatives demonstrate Adeniyi’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian wrestlers, both home-based and foreign-based, receive the necessary support to compete on the international stage,” he said.

The 2026 World Wrestling Championships will bring together the world’s leading wrestlers, with Team Nigeria expected to compete across different registered weight categories.