#WrestleAlexandria

African Championships 2024 entry list

Monday, March 11, 2024 - 09:41 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

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)

#WrestleZagreb

Wrestling 2025 Season Preview

Monday, February 3, 2025 - 08:02 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

​CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 3) -- As the memories of the 2024 Paris Olympics and the World Championships in Tirana linger in the minds of wrestling fans, the 2025 season is already here. And it brings new hopes and a few challenges.

With the spotlight turning toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, this season promises to be a crucial stepping stone in winning a medal in LA 2028.

DOWNLOAD THE 2025 SEASON PREVIEW HERE

The four Ranking Series events in 2025 and the continental championships will serve as vital platforms for athletes preparing for the World Championships in September.

Freestyle (Click here to read full Freestyle preview)

At the 2024 World Championships, Masanosuke ONO (JPN) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) stood out. Sadulaev will return to 97kg to reclaim the gold medal he lost to Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) in 2023. The 97kg weight class is highly competitive, with Tazhudinov’s Olympic win further elevating the stakes.

Kyle SNYDER (USA), once a dominant force at 97kg, now faces a crucial year after missing the Paris Olympics podium. In the 86kg category, Iran's Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), who narrowly missed a second Olympic gold due to injury, will decide which weight class is best for him in 2025.

The season kicks off in Zagreb in February and moves to Tirana for the first two Ranking Series. The continental championships will follow and Iran’s dominance in Asia is likely to continue with top wrestlers like Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) expected to compete in the Asian Championships in Amman.

The European Championships will be key to gauging team strengths, with Azerbaijan looking to build on a successful 2024. The form of neutral athletes will also be under the scanner in Slovakia. The Pan-American Championships in May will see the United States dominate.

The World Championships will feature fierce competition, with new faces emerging in the U.S. and Iran, and Japan announcing themselves in style at the Olympics. Add to the mix the neutral athletes and we have a blockbuster.

Japan will be challenged at the World Championships by Iran, U.S., AINs and dark horses like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)Iran won two gold medals at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman (Click here to reach full Greco-Roman preview)

Can Iran be topped as the best Greco-Roman country? This will be the big question of 2025 as Iran, which had an outstanding Olympics and age-group World Championships, tries to bring more talented wrestlers in its line-up.

Iran excels in the heavier weight classes, with champions like Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) at 82kg, Alireza MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 87kg, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg, and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg. It will try new faces in the lower weight classes with Olympic champion Saied ESMAEILI (IRI) staying at 67kg.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN)Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), blue, and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) have dominated the 60kg weight class in recent past. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan and Kyrgyzstan had successful Olympics. However, the latter is still searching for a gold medal. The rivalry between Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and and Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) is likely to continue in 2025 along with Nao KUSAKA (JPN) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) at 77kg.

Europe will have more competition with Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Armenia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary and the neutral athletes in contention. The 77kg and 87kg weight class will be the most contested and it will be interesting to see who will be the new stars of 97kg and 130kg.

Greco-Roman is unpredictable at the World Championships. There is not one weight class that his a favorite. However, one can expect Azerbaijan, Iran, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, Armenia, Hungary and a few AINs to be on the podium.

JapanJapan won eight gold medals at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women's Wrestling (Click here to read full Women's Wrestling preview)

Japan remains the dominant force in women’s wrestling, securing four of the six gold medals at the Paris Olympics, including their first-ever win at 76kg.

The United States, which claimed the remaining two golds, stands as Japan’s primary challenger. Amit ELOR (USA) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) will lead the U.S. charge in the build-up to the 2028 LA Games, with both nations having strong domestic qualifying systems.

China has had success at the Olympics and World Championships but struggles to challenge Japan at the senior level. In Asia, China faces increasing competition from India and Kyrgyzstan.

IndiaIndia has shown rapid rise in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

India's growing success in age-group wrestling shows promise, but its performance at the senior level, especially at the World Championships, remains inconsistent. Wrestlers like ANTIM (IND), ANSHU (IND), NISHA (IND), and REETIKA (IND) have potential but must maintain consistency.

Kyrgyzstan, with two Olympic medalists in Paris, is aiming for gold next cycle. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) still has more to give, while Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will lead the new generation.

European countries struggled in Paris, winning only four medals out 24, failing to secure medals in 50kg, 53kg, and 76kg.

One team that is gives hope is Ukraine, led by with Paris medalist Iryna KOLIDENKO (UKR), and boosted by return of Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) and rise of Iryna BONDAR (UKR).

Despite emerging challenges, Japan continues to be the team to beat in women’s wrestling.