#WrestleAlger

Adekuoroye Climbs to World No. 1 After Winning Sixth African Title

Saturday, February 8, 2020 - 21:34 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

ALGER, Algeria (February 7) --- Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) improved on their top-three world rankings, as Nigerian women nabbed six African gold medals on Saturday night. 

Adekuoroye won her sixth consecutive African championship crown and overthrew Risako KAWAI (JPN) for the world’s top-ranking at 57kg. Kawai will have an opportunity to regain the top spot later this month at the Asian Championships.

Adekuoroye started the year ranked third in the world at 57kg. She jumped then-second-ranked RONG Ningning (CHN) in last month’s rankings with a gold-medal finish at the Matteo Pellicone. She brought 43 points and a second ranking to Algeria and used her 18-point gold medal to move one-point ahead of Kawai, the reigning three-time world champion and 2016 Olympic champion. (Kawai will compete in the Asian Championships with an opportunity to regain her top rankings).

Adekuoroye went 4-0 on Saturday and outscored her opponents 31-0. She picked up her most notable wins against No. 12 (@ 59kg) Eman EBRAHIM (EGY). She pinned Ebrahim in the opening round and defeated her 10-0 in the Nordic bracket finals.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) passed Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) for the No. 2 ranking at 68kg after winning African gold on Saturday night. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Fellow Nigerian Blessing Oborududu won gold on Saturday and moved ahead of Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) in the 68kg world rankings.

Oborududu brought her African gold-medal tally to ten and surpassed Fransson for the No. 2 spot in the 68kg women’s wrestling rankings. Oborududu’s title on Saturday was worth 18 points, moving her eight points ahead of the Swedish wrestler, who won’t compete at next week’s European Championships.

Oborududu tallied four blowout wins on Saturday. She ended each match early, scoring four technical superiority victories while outscoring her opponents 40-0.

Nigeria overpowered the women’s wrestling portion of the competition and won the team title with their ten finalists and six champions. Nigeria finished with 230 points, which was 64 points ahead of second-place Tunisia (166 points), and 66 points ahead of third-place Egypt (164 points). 

Nigeria’s Women’s Wrestling Champions: 
50kg - Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) 
55kg - Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) 
57kg - Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
59kg - Bisola MAKANJUOLA (NGR)
65kg - Hannah Amuchechi RUEBEN (NGR)
68kg - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) is ranked third in the world at 67kg after his gold-medal performance in Algeria. (Photo: United World Wretling)

Greco-Roman 

El Sayed and Mohamed Improve Top-Five Rankings with African Golds 
Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) and Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) improved on their top-five rankings with African golds and head into the final Ranking Series event eyeing a top-four seed at the Olympic Games. 

El Sayed won the 67kg gold medal and earned 18 Ranking Series points, moving into the third spot of the rankings before the European Championships kick-off. He has 33 points and trails top-ranked Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) by nine points.

El Sayed, who qualified Egypt for the Olympic Games with a fifth-place finish in Nur-Sultan, entered the African Championships ranked fifth in the world at 67kg and was five points from leaping into the top-three of the rankings. His summit to the top of the African podium for the fourth time in his last five tries pushed him into the top-three of the rankings with one Ranking Series event left before the Olympic Games. 

The two-time U23 world champion won all four of his matches on Saturday. He outscored his opponents 27-0 en route to the 67kg gold medal. 

Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) snuck past Oscar PINO HINDES (CUB) for the No. 2 spot at 130kg with his African title-winning effort on Saturday.  (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Abdellatif Mohamed was the second Egyptian who improved his top-five ranking with a gold-medal performance in Algeria. 

Mohamed, who still needs to qualify Egypt for the Olympic Games at 130kg, entered the African Championships ranked third in the world with 30 Ranking Series points. He climbed to the second-ranking and gained a ten-point lead over Cuba's Oscar PINO HINDES (CUB). 

Mohamed collected three wins on his road to gold on Saturday. He demolished his trio of opponents, scoring a fall and two technical superiority victories.

Host Nation Algeria Claims Six Golds 
The host nation, Algeria, claimed six Greco-Roman gold medals at the African Championships and won the team title with 220 points. They finished 15 points ahead of second-place Egypt (205 points), and 73 points ahead of third-place Tunisia (147 points). 

Algeria’s Greco-Roman Champions:
55kg - Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG)
63kg - Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG)
77kg - Abd OUAKALI (ALG)
82kg - Chawki DOULACHE (ALG) 
87kg - Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
97kg - Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)

RESULTS 

Women’s Wrestling

50kg 
GOLD - Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) df. Nada MOHAMED (EGY), via fall 
BRONZE - Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG) df. Debora Valeria TURE (GBS), via fall 
BRONZE - Sarra HAMDI (TUN) df. Fatiha SAHMANI (MAR), 10-0 

53kg 
GOLD - Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) df. Bose SAMUEL (NGR), 4-1
BRONZE - Kholod AHMED (EGY) df. Kheira YAHIAOUI (ALG), via injury default

55kg
GOLD - Esther Omolayo KOLAWOLE (NGR)
SILVER - Dorssaf GHARSSI (TUN)
BRONZE - Faten AHMED (EGY)

57kg 
GOLD - Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Eman Essam Guda EBRAHIM (EGY), 10-0 
BRONZE - Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN) df. Cheima CHEBILA (ALG), 11-4

59kg
GOLD - Bisola MAKANJUOLA (NGR) 
SILVER - Fatma Ramadan Gomaa Ahmed ELKELINY (EGY) 
BRONZE - Khouloud EL OUNI (TUN)

62kg
GOLD - Marwa AMRI (TUN) df. Aminat Oluwafunmilayo ADENIYI (NGR), via fall
BRONZE - Berthe Emilienne ETANE NGOLLE (CMR) df. Wissal EL GNAOUI (MAR), via fall

65kg 
GOLD - Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) 
SILVER - Amel HAMMICHE (ALG) 
BRONZE - Lilia MEJRI (TUN)

68kg 
GOLD - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) 
SILVER - Anta SAMBOU (SEN) 
BRONZE - Rihem AYARI (TUN) 

72kg
GOLD - Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)
SILVER - Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (NGR) 
BRONZE - Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (EGY) 

76kg
GOLD - Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Blessing Joy ONYEBUCHI (NGR), via fall 
BRONZE - Yvette ZIE (BUR) vs. Nour JELJELI (TUN), via fall 

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD - Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) 
SILVER -  Romio Ricardo GOLIATH (NAM)
BRONZE - Youssef Mohamed Harbi THABET (EGY) 

60kg
GOLD - Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)
SILVER - Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG)
BRONZE - Abderrazak ROUINBI (MAR)

63kg 
GOLD - Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) 
SILVER - Mostafa MOHAMED (EGY) 
BRONZE - Hamed Moustapha TCHOUFON (RSA) 

67kg
GOLD - Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) 
SILVER - Ishak GHAIOU (ALG)
BRONZE - Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

72kg 
GOLD - Lamjed MAAFI (TUN) 
SILVER - Abouhalima Mohamed Elsaid ABOUHALIMA (EGY) 
BRONZE - Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG) 

77kg 
GOLD - Abd Elkrim OUAKALI (ALG) df. Wael Hamdy Mohamed ABDELRAHMAN (EGY), 11-5 
BRONZE - Mohamed Aziz LANDOLSI (TUN) df. 2-1 Aziz BOUALEM (MAR), 2-1 

82kg 
GOLD - Chawki DOULACHE (ALG) 
SILVER - Ghaith HANNACHI (TUN)
BRONZE - Mohamed SELIM (EGY) 

87kg 
GOLD - Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) df. Mohamed Moustafa Ahmed Abdall METWALLY (EGY), 9-0
BRONZE - Mohamed FAIQ (MAR) df. Mohamed Skander MISSAOUI (TUN), via fall

97kg
GOLD - Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG) df. Haikel ACHOURI (TUN), 9-0 
BRONZE - Noureldin HASSAN (EGY) df. Choucri ATAFI (MAR), via injury default 

130kg
GOLD - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) 
SILVER - Amine GUENNICHI (TUN)
BRONZE - Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Freestyle Preview

Friday, April 17, 2026 - 11:36 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

TIRANA, Albania (April 17) -- After six years away from the continental stage, Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is set to walk back into the European Championships in Tirana, Albania. Barring an upset of the highest order, he’s likely to reclaim the title he won for the fifth time in Rome back in 2020.

Sadulaev’s absence from the continental championships for the better part of a decade wasn’t a typical one – due to injury or lack of form. As a two-time Olympic champion and a six-time world champion, Sadulaev had built up a resume that made European gold almost routine.

WATCH SADULAEV LIVE | Download European Championships 2026 Preview

His was a schedule built on world conquest and he simply didn’t need the European Championships. He skipped the tournament year after year even as he dominated globally.

Sadulaev’s return to the European Championships doesn’t seem to be linked to any sentimentality, legacy or any need to prove himself. In an interview he had given to UWW at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2026, where he beat Takhir KHANIEV (UWW) to secure his spot for the European Championships, Sadulaev’s explanation was very practical. “For me, this gold means qualifying for the European Championships… It was very important for me to qualify there,” he said.

The 29-year-old hasn’t treated the European Championships as essential for years. At the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, Sadulaev gave further insights into where his focus lies by saying he was already looking ahead to a stacked World Championships field later in the year and mentioned the possibility of multiple Olympic champions in one bracket.

Sadulaev is unlikely to face anything close to that challenge in Tirana. If anyone expected rust -- the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series was his first international competition since he won gold at the 2024 World Championships at this same venue --  he ended that idea comprehensively. He beat a strong field at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, including Khaniev, who beat Kyle SNYDER (USA) earlier in the competition.

A fully fit and focused Sadulaev should find the field in Tirana -- where, incidentally, he will be competing for the third straight international tournament -- a straightforward one despite the presence of defending champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) and world medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), who is moving up from 92kg to 97kg.

However what Sadulaev does though, his return changes the nature of the tournament. If he wins, it sets him up for a crack at a remarkable seventh world title later this year. If the unthinkable should occur in Tirana though, anyone who does get the better of Sadulaev in Europe will immediately become relevant worldwide.

While Sadulaev headlines the event, two other former European champions will be wrestling in Tirana. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) are also lining up for their fifth European title in Tirana.

Uguev vs Harutyunyan
In contrast to an open 57kg division, the 61kg category has a strong favorite in defending champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) who is in excellent form having won the Muhamat Malo Ranking series earlier this year. Expect last year’s silver medalist Harutyunyan and bronze medalist Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) to also contend for the podium at this edition.

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL)Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL) will make his European Championships debut in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

New king at 65kg
A new champion will be crowned in the 65kg category, always one of the most competitive weight categories, since last year's victor Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) isn’t returning.

Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL), who is competing in his first international competition since he won bronze at the 2023 World Championships, has to be the favorite as he dawns into a new era in his career.

Former champions Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Islam DUDAEV (ALB) will be key contenders but both haven’t been in the best of form last year. Two-time U23 world champion Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) will likely be another main threat.

Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) is a four-time European champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Salkazanav Eyes Fifth Title
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) saw his bid to win a fifth straight European title end following an early loss to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) last time around. But with neither Sidakov, who won silver, nor defending European champion Chermen VALIEV (ALB) competing in Tirana, Salkazanov is well placed to return to the top of the podium. 

Also looking to add to his European gold medal tally is Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW). The 33-year-old has been bouncing across weight categories over the past couple of years. He wrestled at 74kg at the Paris Olympics, then won silver at last year's European Championships in the 86kg category but is now cutting down to 79kg, the category in which he won his first continental title back in 2020.

Standing between him and a second European title are Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) who is trying to improve on the silver he won last time and Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) who himself briefly wrestled in the 86kg class without much success at this year's edition of the Muhamet Malo Ranking series.

Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), returning silver medalist, will look to change his medal color to gold this year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shootout at 57kg
Unlike the 97kg category, the 57kg weight class is wide open with no Sadulaev-like figure to shut the door on everyone else. Defending champion Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) isn’t returning this year. In his absence, the closest thing to a favorite might be Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), but, he too, also hasn’t had the best run since taking silver last year, placing 21st at last year's World Championships and failing to medal at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (UWW), who will be competing in his first continental championships, doesn’t have any real hardware from international competition but is more than capable of being a contender having picked up a win against last year’s European bronze medalist Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) at the 2025 World Championships.

Arsenii DZHOIEV (AZE)Arsenii DZHOIEV (AZE) and Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) are two favorites at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shake Up at 86kg and 92kg
The 86kg category is also looking at a shake up. Osman GOCEN (TUR) is the only returning medal winner in this year’s bracket. Expected to lead the charge for the podium this time around is Ibragim KADIEV(UWW), who had a strong outing at the Muhamet Malo Ranking series where he won gold beating world champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in the final.

However, Kadiev was pushed hard by world bronze medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who would be itching to repay the favor once again in Tirana. 

The 92kg division will also see just one medal winner from 2025 -- Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) returning to Tirana. That leaves the field open for 2025 world silver medalist Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW), reigning U23 European champion Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) and Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) for a chance to win their first European title.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) is the defending European champion at 125kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Meshvildishvili Firm
Although he hasn’t been in the best of form recently, failing to medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking series, last year's champion and 2025 worlds silver medalist Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) is still the man to beat at the 125kg category especially since last year’s runner up Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) has had an up an down season.

While Meshvildishvili is the favorite, former U23 world silver medalists Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) and Shamil MUSAEV (UWW) may yet spring a surprise.

David BAEV (UWW) dropped just one point en route to the European title last year including a 10-0 blowout against former world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), and is the favorite in the 70kg category this year as well.