Lagos – The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) on Tuesday said that 13 wrestlers would depart Lagos on Wednesday to represent the country at the African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition which holds from March 2 to March 7 is compulsory for countries seeking to participate in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
The Olympics qualifiers will hold in Algiers, Algeria between March 30 and April 4.
At the moment, only Odunayo Adekuruoye has qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in Brazil.
The team which will depart on the competition’s arrival date is expected to weigh in on March 3, while the competition proper will hold between March 4 and March 6.
NAN reports that the wrestlers comprise of eight females and five males and would be accompanied by five coaches.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The wrestlers are Rosemary Nweke, Mercy Genesis, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Ifeoma Nwoye, Aminat Adeniyi, Blessing Oborududu, Hannah Ruebe and Blessing Onyebuchi.
The rest are Ebikewenimo Welson, Amas Daniel, Melvin Bibo, Soso Tamarau and Emmauel Nworie.
The coaches are Victor Kodei, Purity Akuh, Emeka Obidinma, Godswill Tiebiri and Damian Ohaike.
Segun Oguntade, the Secretary-General NWF, told NAN that the wrestlers were fully prepared to conquer in Egypt.
Oguntade said that they had been in closed camping for over a month.
“We camped them long enough to put them on the right course. We worked on their weaknesses and they are good to compete.
“They have been properly equipped for the task ahead. They have been taught and motivated,’’ he said. (NAN)