#WrestleAlexandria

African Championships 2024 entry list

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 11) — The fourth continental championships of the year, the African Championships, will be held in Alexandria, Egypt from March 14 to 19.

The tournament will see wrestlers from U17, U20 and Seniors and with the senior competition scheduled on March 19 and 20. The first day of the senior competition will see bouts in all 10 Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling and the second day will host 10 Freestyle weight classes.

Here the wrestlers registered for the senior Asian Championships.

Freestyle

57kg 
Salah Eddine KATEB (ALG)
Islam ZERROUGUI (ALG)
Roland TAMBI NFORSONG (CMR)
Alexander Joseph BUCKMAN (CPV)
Abdelrahman Elsayed Abdelrahman MAHMOUD (EGY)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Younes LACHGAR (MAR)
John Kenneth Willbert LEOPOLD (MRI)
Omar FAYE (SEN)
KHALIL BARKOUTI (TUN)

61kg
Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
Hassan Mohamed  Elshahat Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
Thierno Sadou DIALLO (GUI)
Eugine Osale OMULULE (KEN)
Solomon Thato LOPENG (RSA)
Mika LEHMKUEHL (RSA)
Didier Awene DIATTA (SEN)

65kg
Zohier IFTENE (ALG)
Manaceu Nkunga NGONDA (ANG)
Samuel DOHYA KALE (CMR)
Anthony Sterling WESLEY (CPV)
Shehabeldin Emam Abdelraouf MOHAMED (EGY)
Gibriel CHOW (GAM)
Wotna Cana NDOC (GBS)
Rafael Nze NZE OYANA (GEQ)
Yassine JAA (MAR)
Stephen Simon IZOLO (NGR)
Sylvio Siyewoutima DIATTA (SEN)
Mohamed BEN HAFSIA (TUN)

70kg
Abderrahmane BENAISSA (ALG)
Ahmed Sadek Abdelfattah MOHAMED (EGY)
Brendin LOUW (RSA)
Ya Mouhamed NDONG (SEN)

 74kg
Saad BOUGUERRA (ALG)
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Israel NIYONKURU (BDI)
Baki TCHANI (BEN)
Honore Daniel ESSOMBA (CMR)
Joao  Paulo BARBOSA VICENTE JR (CPV)
Mohamed Tarek Abdou Khalil ABDELHADY (EGY)
Bacar NDUM (GBS)
Pedro Levi Ndong MESII NZANG (GEQ)
Mathayo Matonya MAHABILA (KEN)
Aime Mbolalalaina Joel RAKOTONIAINA (MAD)
Yassine SARDI (MAR)
Oyeinkeperemo BRAVEMAN (NGR)
Arno VAN ZIJL (RSA)
Mamadou DIOUF (SEN)
Jamal Spartan ABDUL (UGA)

79kg
Chems Eddine FETAIRIA (ALG)
Nasser Sayed Fares SAYED (EGY)
Benjamin RUBIO RONDA (GEQ)
Mohammed Amine BOUAZOUNI (MAR)
Linus Lucius VAN RENSBURG (RSA)
Mohamed Aziz BEN JAAFAR (TUN)
Jacob NTUYO (UGA)

86kg
Oussama ABDELLAOUI (ALG)
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Matteo Alcidio Louis MONTEIRO FURTADO TRESSE (CPV)
Mohamed Ahmed Farghaly ABDELAAL (EGY)
Mohamed CAMARA (GUI)
Mark Omumasaba ONGUYESI (KEN)
Saad AMANDAR (MAR)
Oussama REGANI (MAR)
Jean David STE MARIE (MRI)
Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR)
Machiel Johannes GROBLER (RSA)
Siny SEMBENE (SEN)
Imed KADDIDI (TUN)
Ivan MASAKWE (UGA)

92kg
Yacine LAKROUT (ALG)
Aubin KAMGANG MOLOU (CMR)
Mohamed Mostafa Aly Elshamy SALAHELDIN (EGY)
Edward Louwis LESSING (RSA)
Issa RHIMI (TUN)

97kg
Fares YAHI (ALG)
Franck Lionel ANABA (CMR)
Abdelrahman Ibrahim Labib ABOUHEIBA (EGY)
Babacarr MBOGE (GAM)
Emmanuel OSEI SARFO (GHA)
Anas SAMIR (MAR)
Pape NDIAYE (SEN)
 

125kg
Djahid BERRAHAL (ALG)
Amoussou Nicolas CAKPO (BEN)
Georges TCHADIE (CMR)
Youssif Mohamed Badea HEMIDA (EGY)
Issah FUSEINI (GHA)
Ahmed SEREHALI (MAR)
Ashton Adeyemi Amin MUTUWA (NGR)
Justin VAN ZYL (RSA)
Nicolaas Johannes Steyn DE LANGE (RSA)
Modou FAYE (SEN)
Hamza RAHMANI (TUN)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Sefiane GUEZZANIA (ALG)
Bofenda David KALUWEKO (ANG)
Shaaban Safy Abdelrazek ABDELLATIF (EGY)
Virinao Cliff NGUATJITI (NAM)
Gift SIKHOSANA CHOCHI (RSA)

 60kg
Mohamed Yacine DRIDI (ALG)
Reginaldo Goncalves da SILVA (ANG)
Latuf MADI (COM)
Haithem Mahmoud Ahmed Fahmy MAHMOUD (EGY)
Fouad FAJARI (MAR)
Given SIKHOSANA (RSA)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)

63kg
Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG)
Adham Ayman Gharib Abdou ELSAYED (EGY)
Mouad JAHID (MAR)
Romio Ricardo GOLIATH (NAM)
Kian DU TOIT (RSA)

67kg
Fayssal BENFREDJ (ALG)
Moustafa Hussein Fathy ALAMELDIN (EGY)
Souhaib KHDAR (MAR)
Sahid Tejan KARGBO (SLE)
Oussama NASR (TUN)

72kg
Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG)
Manuel Chaula BENZA (ANG)
Anthony Sterling WESLEY (CPV)
Emad Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Elemam GHALY (EGY)
Daniel Johannes DU TOIT (RSA)
Barend Jacobus BADENHORST (RSA)
Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

 77kg
Chawki DOULACHE (ALG)
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Mohamed Ehab Mohamed Zahab KHALIL (EGY)
Shafaihuuna Devin BENHARD (NAM)
Dean VAN ZYL (RSA)
Slim MEJRI (TUN)

82kg
Amar MOUMENE (ALG)
Mahmoud Walid Abdelfattah IBRAHIM (EGY)
Aziz BOUALEM (MAR)
Belhasan AZAOUZI (TUN)
 
87kg
Haithem ISSAAD (ALG)
Roberto Mbaio NSANGUA (ANG)
Noureldin Hany Mohamed Gomaa HASSAN (EGY)
Wadii OUALAL (MAR)
Richard FERREIRA (RSA)
Hakim TRABELSI (TUN)
 
97kg
Amine BENDJELLOUL (ALG)
Emad Ashraf Mohamed ABOUELATTA (EGY)
Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR)
Christiaan BURGER (RSA)
Yassine BEN AICHA (TUN)
Mohamed Skander MISSAOUI (TUN)

130kg
Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)
Abdellatif Mohamed Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY)
Ahmed SEREHALI (MAR)
Brahim MELKI (TUN)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG)
Rosine NTSA ASSOUGA (CMR)
Malak Ahmed Mohamed Hassan Mohamed AHMED (EGY)
Debora Valeria TURE (GBS)
Emma Nekesa WANGILA (KEN)
Victorine RASOARIMALALA (MAD)
Miesinnei Mercy GENESIS (NGR)
Matilda KOKERA (RSA)
Nourhene HEDHLI (TUN)
 
53kg
Chahinez RABAH (ALG)
Mbuka Madalena CAROLINA (ANG)
Nogona Celine Josee BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Hadir Wael Imbabi AHMED (EGY)
Elisa Emma Patricia RASOANANTENAINA NOMENJANAHARY (MAD)
Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)
Christianah Tolulope OGUNSANYA (NGR)
Kyla MEYER (RSA)
Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN)

55kg
Aya Eid Gomaa SOLIMAN
Adijat Avorshai IDRIS
Lobna ICHAOUI

57kg
Chaimaa Fouzia AOUISSI (ALG)
Lassaleth Esperanca David ANTONIO (ANG)
Natacha Veronique NABAINA (CMR)
Shaimaa Khalifa Hussein ABDELZAHER (EGY)
Malala SOLONIAINA (MAD)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Kara Ronelle LE ROUX (RSA)
Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)
Veronica AYO (UGA)

59kg
Hana Ali Hamada Mohamed HUSSEIN (EGY)
Ester ABRAHAM (NAM)
Mercy Bolafunoluwa ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Chahd JELJELI (TUN)

62kg
Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG)
Gloria Lynca NIYONKURU (BDI)
Grace Nervine ABONA NKOUMOUDIE (CMR)
Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV)
Farah Ali Hamada Mohamed HUSSEIN (EGY)
Fatoumata Yarie CAMARA (GUI)
Eunice Wathira MBURU (KEN)
Esther Omolayo KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Minette KRUGER (RSA)

65kg
Ikome VIOLETTE NAMONDO (CMR)
Mouda Badawi Hamed Ahmed HAMDOUN (EGY)
Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA (NGR)

68kg
Yasmine BOUREGBA (ALG)
Kawiyatou ISSIFOU (BEN)
Blandine Nyeh NGIRI (CMR)
Menatalla Ahmed Osman Mostafa BADRAN (EGY)
Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Bea MEIRING (RSA)
Patricia Saifeldin Elhah ELNOUR (SUD)
Nour JELJELI (TUN)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN)

72kg
Aimelda NDIFFO (CMR)
Heba Sapry Mohamed Abdelnaby IBRAHIM (EGY)
Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)
AYA ICHAOUI (TUN)

76kg
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Pelagie WILITA (CMR)
Arianna  Olympia XAVIER (CPV)
Jana Emad Sayed Abdelrazek SAYED (EGY)
Jemima NYARKO OFORI (GHA)
Marie Celeste Andrea VILBRUN (MRI)
Hannah Amuchechi RUEBEN (NGR)
Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)

#WrestleTirana

Sadulaev shuts down Taylor in World Championships showdown

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- Two-time world champion at 92kg Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) would have expected his return to the World Championships to make all the noise in Tirana. After all, it had been two years since he last competed at the World Championships.

Enter Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) and David TAYLOR (USA). The former, who last won the world title in 2021, was not able to compete at the Paris Olympics and was injured during the semifinal of the 2023 World Championships.

Taylor, world champion in 2023, missed the Paris Olympics after losing the trials in the United States, announced his retirement and took a coaching job. He came out of retirement and decided to compete at the World Championships and retire.

Both are not 92kg wrestlers. Sadulaev has been a true 97kg for eight years now. Taylor is competing at this weight for the first time after dominating 86kg for years. But the two were pitted against each other in the opening round of the World Championships in Tirana at 92kg.

The small Feti Borova Sports Hall in Tirana did not have space to sit. So where one could, they stood to watch the two wrestle. Saudulaev in a singlet not meant for his 92kg body. Taylor, in his customary elbow on the thigh and waiting for his opponent.

No one knew what was going to happen. Sadulaev was reducing weight, and Taylor was gaining. How would the two match up? It was this lack that prompted the fans to cheer for both. But after the first period, the picture became much clearer. Sadulaev shut down Taylor's offense and came out of the pressure bout 7-0.

After the initial collar ties, Taylor went for the offense. He got on Sadulaev's leg and tried the lift but Sadulaev was swift to get out of the hold. Taylor continued his attack. That's the only way he knows wrestling. Taylor took another offensive shot and Sadulaev, with lessons from the previous attack, pressured forward to neutralize the attack and scored a go-behind for two. Sadulaev resorted to heavy snapdowns and Taylor wasn't able to defend the second one. Within two minutes, Sadulaev was up 4-0.

The speed and power was Sadulaev was impressively superior to that of Taylor who decided to change a little in the second period. He went for the far leg of Sadulaev. But Sadulaev was quick and spun behind Taylor and scored a takedown with less than two minutes left.

By this time, Ghasempour had finished his bout on the other mat. He defeated Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 6-0 in a rather slow bout.

Sadulaev now had to defend his 5-0 lead. Taylor continued his aggressive approach and got on Sadulaev's right leg. What he did not expect was the quick counter from Sadulaev who pushed Taylor and scored an exposure for two. It was evident that Taylor could not match Sadulaev.

David TAYLOR (USA)David TAYLOR (USA) in the warm-up hall after his bout against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) at 92kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"I did not score on the two times I shot and he did," Taylor said after the bout. "That was the difference. I needed to score on those two occasions."

Taylor and Sadulaev went to the warm-up hall but the former sat for more than 45 minutes in silence. He finally broke his silence and talked to the United States coaches after his leg attacks. After spending 30 more minutes gathering his thoughts, Taylor packed his bags and left.

On the training mats, Ghasempour and Sadulaev jogged before cooling down after their bouts. If both continue to win, they are expected to meet in the semifinals.

The match will be rather important for Taylor as well. He will hope for a Sadulaev win which will give him the chance to wrestle for the bronze medal.

"I expect him to make the finals and come back tomorrow," Taylor said. "I need to wrestle better that is my focus for now."

If he does wrestle Thursday, fans will only be treated to another blockbuster. A Ghasemoour-Taylor bout. The only downside will be that one will go home empty-handed.