By Dianabasi Effiong
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) says the national trials to select the national team for the 2026 calendar year will begin in January.
This was made known in a letter obtained by sports reporters on Friday by Oluwasegun Ademisoro, the Secretary General of the Federation.
According to the letter, the national trials will begin Jan. 6 at the Indoor Sports Hall, Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.
The letter noted that the national trials became imperative after the 4th Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Championship, a benchmark to rank national team athletes, was postponed indefinitely in honour of Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who died less than 48 hours before the event.
It also noted that the trials were to ensure fairness in selection, meritocracy, and competitive integrity for the identification of talents to represent Nigeria in the year 2026.
The Secretary General stated in the letter, that four women’s categories, such as 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, and 67kg, would participate in the trials.
He said that each weight class would have ‘top four’ wrestlers based on their performances in major tournaments, such as the National Championships and the National Sports Festival, among others.
The invited wrestlers in each of the following weight classes:
53 kg Category
1. Ogunsanya Christiana – Oyo
2. Ayelon Mary-Bayelsa (BYS)
3. Zannu Mausi – Lagos
4. Ayo Esewi – Edo
57kg Category
1. Bekefula Tarilayefa – Bayelsa
2. Jumuoke Adekoye – Ondo
3. Onize Umman – Rivers
4. Esosuakpo Faith – Edo
62 kg Category
1. Esther Kolawole – Rivers
2. Precious Tiebiri – Delta
3. Appah Blessing – Nasarawa
4. Patience Kakan – Bayelsa (BYS)
68 kg Category
1. Odede Rita – Nasarawa
2. Joseph Deborah – Osun
3. Reuben Hannah – Nigerian Army (NA)
4. Adekuoroye Mercy – Ondo
According to the NWF Media Assistant, Promise Okotoko, the federation will notify stakeholders on a new date for the 4th Gov. Douye Diri National Wrestling Championship, which will be used to rank other weight classes.
