Nigeria’s wrestling team has finished an intensive open camp in Oklahoma, United States, and moved into the final phase of its build-up for the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The overseas preparation was approved by Nigeria Wrestling Federation president Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. It was designed for Nigeria-based athletes competing abroad, as well as wrestlers holding valid United States visas.
In Oklahoma, the squad tested itself in dual meets against strong opposition from several NCAA Division I programmes. The wrestlers have since entered a closed camp, where they are working on tactical shortcomings revealed during the open sessions.
Quick facts
- Open camp location: Oklahoma, United States
- Championship venue: Astana, Kazakhstan
- Opposition included athletes from NCAA Division I programmes
- Nigeria’s last World Championships medal came in 2023
Women’s head coach Akuh Purity led the Oklahoma workouts and said the camp provided an important measure of the team’s current level of readiness.
“We are stepping up the intensity and keeping our attention on improving our results,” Purity said. “The open camp was a valuable chance to see exactly where we stand at this stage.”
She added that the team moved straight into a private training phase after the open camp. The wrestlers are now concentrating on correcting the errors and weaknesses exposed in the sessions and dual meets, with Purity praising the athletes for their demanding work rate and determination to improve.
Purity also thanked Adeniyi for authorising and making the pre-championship tour possible. She said competing against high-level international opponents had given the wrestlers an important opportunity to end Nigeria’s wait for a World Championships medal.
Nigeria has gone without a medal at the event since 2023. The coaching team expects the closed camp to sharpen the squad’s technical execution, tactical approach and physical condition before its departure for Astana.
