The three-man Nigerian team that will compete in the 18th African Sambo Championships in Cairo, Egypt from June 1–3 left the nation on Wednesday in preparation for their first-ever appearance at the competition.
The International Olympic Committee now recognises sambo, a branch of boxing, judo, jujutsu, and folk wrestling that has not yet been scheduled for an Olympic demonstration.
Following an amazing performance as one of the demonstration sports at the 13th African Games in Ghana, Nigeria was named among the teams competing at the tournament.
The three medallists at the 13th African Games led by gold medallist Charity Jatau as well as silver medallist Fatima Ogbonyomi, who will both compete in the women’s category, while the only male competitor is James Chegwam, who also won bronze in Ghana.
The three-day tournament holds at the Cairo International Stadium and will feature Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo, and Beach Sambo.
According to the vice president of the Sambo Association of Nigeria Sheriff Hammed, the performances of the athletes stunned the continental body, which decided to include the team in the list of participating countries heading to Egypt.
“We are excited that sambo is gaining ground in Nigeria, and the performance of the athletes in Ghana has shown that with more support, Nigeria can rival the best sambo nations in Africa. We have decided to honour the invitation of the continental body to attend for the first time in Egypt, and we hope and believe our athletes will again show their qualities against the rest of Africa, just like they did in Ghana.
“I must admit that our performance in Ghana has given us hope that the sport has come to stay, and we are working tirelessly to ensure that the sport is popular across the country. We are also hopeful of a good outing in Egypt,” Hammed said. Among the top athletes expected to light up the tournament is two-time World Combat Sambo Champion, multiple African Combat Sambo Champion, and member of FIAS Athletes Commission Seidou Nji Mouluh of Cameroon.
