The African Wrestling Championship (Port Harcourt 2018) closed successfully on Sunday night with winners emerging in all the categories of the competition. The athletes from the participating countries contested for trophies under Greco-Roman and Free Style models. After the competition, trophies were presented to the winners during a gala night at the Banquet Hall of the Government House Port Harcourt.
The team trophies were presented in the following order: Cadet Free Style; Algeria (Third Position), Nigeria (Second Place) and South Africa (First Place), Free style Cadet; Algeria (Third Position), Nigeria (Second Position), Egypt (First Position ). Women Wrestling Cadet: Egypt (Third Position) Tunisia (Second Position) and Nigeria (First Position) Junior Category Free Style: Egypt (Third Position), Algeria (Second Position) ans Nigeria (First Position), Junior Greco Roman: Egypt (Third Position) , Nigeria (Second Position) and Egypt (First Position) , Women Wrestling, Junior Category: Algeria (Third Position), Nigeria (Second Position), Tunisia (First Position). Senior Category Women Wrestling: Egypt (Third Position), Tunisia (Second Position), Nigeria (First). Senior Greco Roman: Morocco (Third Position), Algeria (Second Position), Egypt (First Position), Senior Free Style: Egypt (Third Position ), South Africa (Second Position) and Nigeria (First Position).
During the opening ceremony of the championship, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said that the hosting of the championships, tagged “Port Harcourt 2018”, was geared towards fosting regional unity as well as provide platform for highly talented national wrestlers to prove themselves. Governor Wike described Rivers State as safe haven for investors, pointing out that the state has the capacity to host more events. “With this event, the state is capable canvassing Port unity and friendship in Africa, because Harcourt is a dynamic, vibrant and beautiful city for hosting national and international events. “Rivers has the capacity to host more sporting activities with the facilities on the ground in the state,” he said. The governor thanked the United World Wrestling and Nigeria Wrestling Federation for choosing Rivers to host the event. President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Minister of Sports and Youths Development, Solomon Dalung, said that sports could also promote well-being of a nation. President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali and President of United World Wrestling for Africa, Faud Meskout urged the athletes to exhibit sportsmanship.
