Nigeria
Nigeria is often referred to as the "Giant
of Africa", owing to its large population and economy. With approximately
182 million inhabitants, Nigeria
is the most populous country in Africa and the
seventh most populous country in the world. Nigeria has one of the largest populations
of youth in the world. The country is viewed as a multinational state, as it is
inhabited by over 500 ethnic groups, of which the three largest are the Hausa, Igbo
and Yoruba; these ethnic groups speak over 500 different languages, and are
identified with wide variety of cultures. The official language is English. Nigeria is
divided roughly in half between Christians, who live mostly in the southern
part of the country, and Muslims in the northern part. A minority of the
population practise religions indigenous to Nigeria, such as those native to Igbo
and Yoruba peoples.
Sports in Nigeria
Football is largely considered
the Nigeria's
national sport and the country has its own Premier League of football. Nigeria's national
football team, known as the "Super Eagles", has made the World Cup on
five occasions. They won the African Cup of Nations in 1980, 1994, and 2013,.
They won the gold medal for football in the 1996 Summer Olympics (in which they
beat Argentina)
becoming the first African football team to win gold in Olympic Football.
Chioma Ajunwa
became the first athlete in her country to win an Olympic gold medal at
the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, in the long jump. Nigeria won 23 olympic Medals (3 × Gold, 8
× Silver, 12 × Bronce). The most successful Sport was Athletics with 15 Medals
than Boxing (6 Medals) Teakwondo(1), Football (1) and Weigthlifting (1).
Wrestling in Nigeria
The Headquarter of the Nigerian
Wrestling Federation (NWF) is in Nigerias
capitol in Abuja. Wrestling is a
popular sport in some parts of Nigeria.
For many tribes, wrestling is a traditional folk sports.
A young Man who comes
out Victorious in a traditional wrestling is admired and respected
by all ,He is seen as a Warrior or a distinguished wrestler. Wrestlers
are recognized in the tribal
society have a high reputation.
The most Olympic
Style Wrestlers started with traditional styles. The Canadian Olympic
gold medalist Daniel Igali has
returned to his homeland and
serves as president of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation also as chairman
of the technical commission of the
Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) and he became a member of the House of
Assembly in Nigeria’s Bayelsa State in 2011.
  
Odunayo
Adekuoroye
Ifeoma
Iheanacho
Sinivie
Boltic
International
Situation
The Nigerian Wrestling
Federation ist he second strongest
Nation in Wrestling in Africa (behind Egypt). At Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow Nigeria was the third best nation in wrestling
(behind India and Canada). Because Nigeria is geographically so
far away from the strong European
Wrestling Nations, the international exchange was difficult and
expensive. While European wrestlers set for
an international tournament for a couple
of hours on the bus, the South Africans have to fly halfway around the world. Despite this enormous
disadvantage Nigerian wrestlers already achieved
some notable successes.
Daniel Igali, is the most famous
wrestler in Nigeria.
Daniel Igali is Canada's
first-ever gold medalist in Olympic wrestling. Igali grew up in Nigeria (Ijaw
tribe) as one of 21 children. As captain of the Nigerian wrestling team he came
to Canada
to compete in the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He remained in the country while
seeking refugee status due to political unrest in Nigeria. He acquired canadian
citizenship in 1998. Odunayo Adekuoroye competed in the women's freestyle 53 kg
event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she won a gold medal and at the 2015
World Wrestling Championships where she won a bronze medal. She qualified for the Rio 2016 Summer
Olympic Games. Sinivie
Boltic (born 2 July 1982
in Famgbe) competed in the freestyle 96 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
He was the flag bearer of Nigeria
during the opening ceremony. 2010 he won Gold at the Commonwealth Games and 2011 at African
Championships in Freestyle. Ifeoma Iheanacho ist the most succesful female wrestler of africa. She won two bronce medals at the World
Championships 2009 and 2010. Appah
Macauley was 1984 Africa Champion and 5. at Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 90Kg
Freestyle. The current national coach Victor Kodei won 11 Africa Titles and
reached Rank 6 at Olympic Games 1996 in Atlanta 90 Kg Freestyle.
 
Qualified for the
Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro Soso
Tamarau
and Amas Daniel (red Singlet).
National Situation
In some
parts of Nigeria,
Wrestling is a very popular Sport. For some Tribes wrestling is a traditional
folk sports. The Most wrestlers of the Olympic Styles started with
traditional wrestling.
By far the strongest wrestling team in the country is: Bayelsa
State
1. Bayelsa State
2.Delta State
3.Ondo State
4. Nigerian
Army
5. Cross River
6. Edo
7. Plateau
8.Ochei Club
9.Nasarawa
10. Anambra
The
headquarter of the Nationalteam is the High
Performance Center
in Abuja.
Headcoach Nigeria Wrestling
Federation, Victor Kodei
female coach, Purity Akuh
Traditional Wrestling
The Igbo
traditional wrestling is a very popular sport in the Igbo community. It is a
practice and acknowledgement of skill and strength as well as promotion of
indigenous language , culture , norms, values, and traditions by young,
physically capable Igbo men. In Igbo
Land a man is believed to
prove his physical strength when he is able to fight off his aggressors and so
wrestling shows strength and courage. Before the wresting season young men who
will be competing train for months. A young Man who comes out
Victorious in a traditional wrestling is admired and respected by all ,He
is seen as a Warrior or a distinguished wrestler.
Traditional
Wrestling sometimes are used to settle local dispute and conflict
between two Villages .It is also Used to determine the right groom in cases
where a young woman has many suitors, in such cases a wrestling match is
arranged where all the suitors battle it out and whoever emerges victorious
marries the woman .It is also a form of entertainment, usually the chief of the
village and his chieftains are seated the villagers gather around the village
square too to watch.
Wrestling
matches take place in traditional rings ,a ring filled with sand which cushions
their fall. A flute boy is present to provide special tunes that stir the
heart ,this is believed to give added strength to the weak, spectators are also
present to cheer the wrestlers on and encourage them. The winner of the contest
takes home a prize.
Federation
National Stadium Complex Package B, Abuja NIGERIA
President Daniel Igali
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/NigeriaAmateurWrestlingFederation/
01 / 2016
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