#WrestleCasablanca

African Championships 2025 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

CASABLANCA, Morocco (April 21) -- The African Championships will be held in Casablanca, Morocco from April 29 to May 4 in three different age-groups. The championships will kick off with the U17 level on April 29, the U20 competition will be held on May 1 and 2 while the senior event will be held on May 3 and 4.

All 10 Greco-Roman and five Women's Wrestling weight classes will be in action on May 3 while 10 Freestyle and remaining five Women's Wrestling weight classes will take place on May 4.

All matches will be live on uww.org and the UWW App using UWW+.

Note: These entries are subject to change. Please refer to UWW Arena for final entries on the day of the competition.

Greco-Roman

55kg
Bofenda KALUWEKO (ANG)
Ephraim MWINI (COD)
Ahmed ALY (EGY)
Ayoub SBETE (MAR)
Joel IPINGE (NAM)
Lennie STEYN (RSA)
Adem LAMLOUM (TUN)

60kg
Adel FEGAS (ALG)
Reginaldo da SILVA (ANG)
Rabby KILANDI (COD)
Ahmed SHABAN (EGY)
Mouad JAHID (MAR)
Virinao NGUATJITI (NAM)

63kg
Mohamed DRIDI (ALG)
Godefroid KALUBI (COD)
Youssef MOHAMED (EGY)
Benson KARIUKI (KEN)
Mouncif MESROUR (MAR)

67kg
Ishak GHAIOU (ALG)
Roland KALAMBAYI (COD)
Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Bilal EL BAHJA (MAR)
Oussama NASR (TUN)

72kg
Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG)
Norvil BUKASA (COD)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY)
Brian OLOO (KEN)
Walid TALBI (MAR)
Nkosinathi MASHININI (RSA)

77kg
Andy MUKENDI (COD)
Yehia ABDELKADER (EGY)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Souhaib KHDAR (MAR)
Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

82kg
Abd OUAKALI (ALG)
Aly ABDELGHANY (EGY)
Evans SIEUNDA (KEN)
Elias CHIGUER (MAR)
Shafaihuuna BENHARD (NAM)

87kg
Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY)
Wadii OUALAL (MAR)

97kg
Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD)
Mohamed GABR (EGY)
Emmanuel OSEI SARFO (GHA)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR)

130kg
Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
Joel TUKAI (KEN)
Anis HNINI (MAR)
Oussama ASSAD (MAR)

Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Freestyle

57kg
Salah KATEB (ALG)
Alex VEMBA (ANG)
Roland TAMBI NFORSONG (CMR)
Ephraim MWINI (COD)
Mostafa MAHMOUD (EGY)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Mohamed CAMARA (GUI)
Samuel MUMO (KEN)
Finoana RAKOTONIAINA (MAD)
Ben TARIK (MAR)
Lenerd VAN SCHALKWYK (RSA)
Omar FAYE (SEN)

61kg
Radouane SISSAOUI (ALG)
Seko KINAVIUD (ANG)
Ndjidda BOUBA (CMR)
Rabby KILANDI (COD)
Hassan ELSAYED (EGY)
Solomon ADDICO (GHA)
Thierno DIALLO (GUI)
Benson KARIUKI (KEN)
Yassine RAZZAK (MAR)
John LEOPOLD (MRI)
Saviour EGOLI (NGR)
Roehan DU PLESSIS (RSA)
Didier DIATTA (SEN)
Khalil BARKOUTI (TUN)

65kg
Rida DJEFFAL (ALG)
Miguel ANTONIO (ANG)
Godefroid KALUBI (COD)
Wilson VEIGA GOMES (CPV)
Mansour ELGHATIET (EGY)
Wotna NDOC (GBS)
Kenneth KOECH (KEN)
Ahmed EL BAHJAJI (MAR)
Stephen IZOLO (NGR)
Sulaiman KARGBO (SLE)
Farouk JELASSI (TUN)

70kg
Abderrahmane BENAISSA (ALG)
Gabriel MUANDA (COD)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Mohamed AHMED (EGY)
James OMWANGE (KEN)
Otmane EL BAHJA (MAR)
Tope ADEBAYO (NGR)
Jaun HUGO (RSA)
Sylvio DIATTA (SEN)
Khairiddine BEN TLILI (TUN)

74kg
Saad BOUGUERRA (ALG)
Francisco KADIMA (ANG)
Jacques MONTY MBOUGOU (CMR)
Norvil BUKASA (COD)
Joao BARBOSA VICENTE (CPV)
Omar MOURAD (EGY)
Caetano SA (GBS)
Brian OLOO (KEN)
Mohammed BOUZGAR (MAR)
Ebierelayefa ANDREW (NGR)
Jesse VAN BAALEN (RSA)
Maodo BA (SEN)
Foday KARGBO (SLE)
Jamal ABDUL (UGA)

79kg
Abdelkader IKKAL (ALG)
Andy MUKENDI (COD)
Yahya ELGAMAL (EGY)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Mohammed BOUAZOUNI (MAR)
Keean BOSSE (RSA)
Mbaye DIOP (SEN)
Alfred DANIEL (SLE)

86kg
Houssem OUCIF (ALG)
Iliassou BONI (BEN)
Matteo FURTADO TRESSE (CPV)
Ahmed MAHMOUD (EGY)
Evans SIEUNDA (KEN)
Walid CHEIKH LAHLOU (MAR)
Oluwafemi JACKSON (NGR)
Ulrich WITTE (RSA)
Siny SEMBENE (SEN)

92kg
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Mohamed AHMED (EGY)
Dan CHEPTAI (KEN)
Ahmed FRIFRA (MAR)
Ebikeme NEWLIFE (NGR)
Immanuel BOSHOFF (RSA)
Mamadou DIOUF (SEN)

97kg
Barthelemy TSHOSHA (COD)
Aabdelrahman SHEYATAN (EGY)
Gino INTCHALA (GBS)
Jonathan SUTHERLAND (GHA)
Ayoub NASSR ELLAH (MAR)
Pape NDIAYE (SEN)

125kg
Youssef ABOUDAWABA (EGY)
Issah FUSEINI (GHA)
Joel TUKAI (KEN)
Oussama ASSAD (MAR)

Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)Farah HUSSEIN (EGY), blue, and Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) are entered at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Cheima CHEBILA (ALG)
Malak AHMED (EGY)
Emma WANGILA (KEN)
Sabah KANEB (MAR)
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
Chloe BREWIS (RSA)

53kg
Chahinez RABAH (ALG)
Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Rose KOMBE (CMR)
Sama MAHMOUD (EGY)
Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)
Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR)
Matilda KOKERA (RSA)
Mama SAMBOU (SEN)
Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN)

55kg
Achouak TEKOUK (ALG)
Rosine NTSA ASSOUGA (CMR)
Salma ELBOSTANY (EGY)
Emily WANYAMA (KEN)
Sara ETTAKI (MAR)
Adijat IDRIS (NGR)
Kara LE ROUX (RSA)
Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN)

57kg
Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG)
Ivyone MASIBO (KEN)
Mamy RASOANOMENJANAHARY (MAD)
Douaa BHAR (MAR)
Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Chaima DAHI (TUN)

59kg
Rayane HOUFAF (ALG)
Rahma BEDIWY (EGY)
Malala SOLONIAINA (MAD)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Kavelishimwe ABRAHAM (NAM)
Jumoke ADEKOYE (NGR)
Chahd JELJELI (TUN)

62kg
Nawel BAHLOUL (ALG)
Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV)
Farah HUSSEIN (EGY)
Sanaa MANDAR (MAR)
Vihanshy KANAPETRADU (MRI)
Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Safietou GOUDIABY (SEN)
Saida CHERIDI (TUN)

65kg
Sofia VEMBA (ANG)
Lec ANDE (CAF)
Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY)
Faith WAMALWA (KEN)
Oumaima EL ATLA (MAR)
Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA (NGR)
Cara DU PLESSIS (RSA)

68kg
Joseth MAVUNGU (ANG)
Kawiyatou ISSIFOU (BEN)
Mariam MESBAH (EGY)
Aminata IMBALI (GBS)
Koumba SOW (GUI)
Saadia ET TAMMAR (MAR)
Hannah RUEBEN (NGR)

72kg
Yasmine BOUREGBA (ALG)
Aimelda NDIFFO (CMR)
Rosie TABORA (COD)
Asmaa ABACH (MAR)
Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)

76kg
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Pelagie WILITA (CMR)
Malachi KYSER (GHA)
Yacout EL GORAI (MAR)
Damola OJO (NGR)

#WrestleBratislava

Young stars make Azerbaijan best team at Europeans

By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 13) -- Azerbaijan is the best team of Europe and its way ahead of others.

The country claimed the Greco-Roman team title at the European Championships in Bratislava with 151 points, 41 points more than second-placed Turkiye which had 110 points. Hungary managed to put itself on the podium at the third place with 104 points.

After only a silver and bronze medals on Saturday, Azerbaijan bounced back with three gold medals and a bronze medal to finish on the top of the standings.

Starting the gold rush world 63kg champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) who downed Geogij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3, in the 60kg final.

Mammadli got the first par terre advantage and completed a standing to danger suplex for four points and a turn to lead 7-0. He tried one more turn but Tibilov defended the attempt. Tibilov managed to turn Mammadli in the second period when he got the par terre position but that was all the action from him.

The 7-3 win gave Mammadi his second straight European gold medal and confirmed his spot on the Azerbaijan team for the World Championships.

At 67kg, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) continued his dominance at the continental event, winning his third straight European gold medal.

Facing Abu AMAEV (BUL), who Jafarov had defeated last European Championships in the quarterfinal, in the final in Bratislava, Jafarov turned him in par terre for two points. At the end of the mat, Jafarov lifted Amaev and completed the throw for four points to lead 7-0.

Amaev failed to break Jafarov's defense from par terre and got only one point as he dropped the bout 7-1. By reaching the final, Amaev earned his best European Championships medal -- a silver. He has two bronze medals from past editions.

Another young star gave Azerbaijan its third gold as Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) won the top medal at 82kg. He defeated world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) 6-0 in the final.

Earning a par terre advantage in the first period, Gurbanov scored from a turn to lead in the first period before blocking an armthrow from Szilvassy to earn two points. Hungary challenged the call for slip throw but lost it, giving one more point to Gurbanov for a 6-0 lead.

The gold medal is Gurbanov's first major senior gold medal as he already has two European U23 golds and one U17 gold. Gurbanov has won the World Championships gold medal at U17, U20 and U23 levels.

Kiril MILOV (BUL) comleted is glorious run at the European Championships with the 97kg gold medal, his second in the continental history. In the final, he beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1, a day after he defeated seven-time European champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM).

Milov scored two gut wrench turns from par terre to lead 5-0 and then was saved by a challenge in the second period. Lazogianis completed a throw from par terre which was blocked by Milov and he never landed in danger. But Lazogianis was awarded four points which gave him a 5-5 criteria lead for a bigger move.

Bulgaria challenged the decision and got two points as he had blocked Lazogianis and made him land in danger instead. He then defended his 7-1 lead for the gold medal.

At 72kg, two gold medals were awarded after a scoreboard glitch gave Levente LEVAI (HUN) a 4-4 criteria win over Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) in the final.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), 7-3

BRONZE: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) df. Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL), 5-0

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Abu AMAEV (BUL), 7-1

BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 5-0
BRONZE: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Levente LEVAI (HUN) and Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) [NO SILVER]

BRONZE: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 2-1
BRONZE: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) df. Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU), 9-1

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Erik SZILVASSY (HUN), 6-0

BRONZE: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 5-3 
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 7-1

BRONZE: Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) df. Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED), 8-5
BRONZE: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), via inj. def.