February 10, 2018

Innocent Nwokoro and Adewale Shittu, Free-Style and Greco-Roman coaches respectively, have said that Nigeria would top the medals table at the end of the United World Wrestling African Championships in Port Harcourt.

Nwokoro, a freestyle cadet coach told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Port Harcourt that the wrestlers’ performances were good.

NAN reports that as at the morning of Feb. 10, the Team Nigeria has won 46 medals at the ongoing Africa Wrestling Championships at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civil Centre, Port Harcourt.

The medals comprise 16 gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze.

“By the grace of God we will continue to rake in medals until the end of the programme.

“If you look at the tournament, Nigeria is one of the best in Africa, the athletes are really doing great, there is no threat against Nigeria for now in freestyle,’’ he said.

Shittu on his part, said Team Nigeria was doing great as athletes of the Greco-Roman had won two gold medals for the boys’ cadet, two silver and three bronze.

Shittu, however, urged the government to organise tournaments of this nature at least once in two years to produce Olympic champions.

“The Federal Government should focus on youth games like this one so that in four to five years’ time, they will become Olympic and world champions.

“If this kind of event takes place at least once in two years, Nigeria will have the best wrestlers in the world. So, the effort must be sustained,’’ he said.