Iranian Wrestling Federation president Rasul KHADEM and Africa Council president Fouad MESKOUT celebrate the start of the Friendship Cup last week in Tehran (Photo: Mohammadreza Akbari, IWF)

Sportsmanship, African Wrestling Talent on Display at Iranian “Friendship Cup”

TEHRAN, Iran (August 18) – Several of Africa’s top wrestlers traveled to the Iranian capital of Tehran last week to compete in that country’s ""Friendship Cup.”

The tournament pitted Africa’s best against some of Iran rising stars in Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle and aimed to help the African confederation promote and develop wrestling on their continent.

""The Friendship Cup is a leading, distinctive and unique experience that will be a supporting step to help the Africa continent for developing the wrestling sport,"" said Fouad MESKOUT, president of the African council. “We are very honored to take part in the festivities and watch our continent’s best take on a strong Iranian lineup.” 

The African contingent brought their continent’s best to Tehran’s famed Wrestling Hall, arriving with 11 of the 2014 continental champions and three silver medalists.

In the first dual meet of the Friendship Cup, the 2014 African Greco-Roman side performed well, wrestling to a 4-3 win. Overall the African side went 2-3-1 against the nation currently defending both the Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle World Cup. 

Highlighting the African effort was Egypt’s Fahmi HAITHAM (59kg) who put on a brilliant performance, winning all of his matches in Greco-Roman.

Several championship caliber wrestlers including 2014 Asian champion Meysam Mostafa JOUKAR and junior world champion Alireza KIRIMI were included on the Iranian squad. Joining them on the taking to the mats for the home squad were world junior bronze medalist Amin TAHERI and former Asian silver medalist Saeid RIAHI.

Full results of Friendship Cup: 

Greco-Roman

Match 1: Team Africa, 4 df. Iranian Junior National Team, 3

59kg: Fahmi HAITHAM (EGY) df.  Mohammad Morad ELYASI (IRI), by fall.
66kg: Ben Aissa TAREK AZIZ (ALG) df. Mehran DADASHI (IRI), 8-4
71kg: Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) df. Akram BOUDJEMLINE (ALG), 6-4
75kg: Farshad BELFAKKEH (IRI)  df. Abdelkarim OUAKALI(ALG), 14-11
80kg: Abdesalam TAREK MOHAMED (EGY) df. Mehdi FALLAH (IRI),11-2
85kg: Othman AHMED (EGY) df. Mehdi EBRAHIMI (IRI), 6-2
130kg: Babak RAZMPOUSH (IRI) df. Anas EL MBKER (MAR), 3-0

Match 2: Iran Hafte-Tir Club 4 df. Team Africa 3

59kg: Fahmi HAITHAM (EGY) df.  Mosayeb AKBARI(IRI), 6-6.
66kg: Vahid MIRFATHOLLAHI(IRI) df.Ben Aissa TAREK AZIZ (ALG),1-1
71kg: Akram BOUDJEMLINE (ALG) df. Davoud ROSTAMI (IRI),3-1
75kg: Yousef AKHBARI(IRI)  df. Abdelkarim OUAKALI(ALG), 5-0
80kg: Abdesalam TAREK MOHAMED (EGY) df. Mehdi EBRAHIMI (IRI), 13-7
85kg: Saman AZIZI (IRI) df. Othman AHMED (EGY), 5-2
130kg: Mehdi NOURI (IRI) df. Anas EL MBKER (MAR), 9-0

Match 3: Team Africa 3 draw Team Iran 3

59kg: Fahmi HAITHAM (EGY) df.  Mosayeb AKBARI(IRI), 3-2.
66kg: Ben Aissa TAREK AZIZ (ALG) df. Vahid MIRFATHOLLAHI(IRI), 10-2
71kg: Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) df. Akram BOUDJEMLINE (ALG), 8-0
75kg: Abdelkarim OUAKALI(ALG) df. Yousef AKHBARI(IRI), 4-4
85kg: Saman AZIZI (IRI) df. Othman AHMED (EGY), 2-0
130kg: Amir GHASEMI MONJAZI (IRI) df. Anas EL MBKER (MAR) by fall

Freestyle

Match 1- Iranian Juniors, 5 df. Team Africa, 2

57kg: Welson EBIKEWEINIM (NGR) df. Reza ATARI (IRI) ,4-3
65kg: Mohammadreza SARGOU (IRI) df. Nasrallah LALOUCH (ALG), 11-0
70kg: Ayad IBRAHIM (EGY) df. Rasoul KHOJASTEH (IRI), 8-6
74kg: Hamidreza ZARRINPEYKAR (IRI) df. Waldemar MEYER GERALD (RSA), 12-4
86kg: Alireza KARIMI (IRI) df. Mohamed ZAGLOL (EGY), 14-4
97kg: Hossein SHAHBAZI (IRI) df. Soso TAMARO (NGR), 7-2
125kg: Amin TAHERI (IRI) df. Selim TRABELSI (TUN), 10-0

Match 2- Iran Gaz Mazandaran Club df. Team Africa, 2

57kg: Mehran REZAZADEH (IRI) df. Welson EBIKEWEINIM (NGR),12-2
65kg: Shahryar TAGHAVI (IRI) df. Nasrallah LALOUCH (ALG), 11-0
70kg: Saeb KALANTARI (IRI) df. Ayad IBRAHIM (EGY), 9-7
74kg: Waldemar MEYER GERALD (RSA) df. Mehdi ZAMANI (IRI), 7-5
86kg: Mohamed ZAGLOL (EGY), df.Seyed Mohammad SADATI (IRI), 3-1
97kg: Saeid RIAHI (IRI) df. Soso TAMARO (NGR), 12-2
125kg: Jafar SHAMS NATERI (IRI) df. Selim TRABELSI (TUN),by fall

Match 3- Team Iran, 6 df. Team Africa, 0

57kg: Ali HAJAGHANIA (IRI) df. Welson EBIKEWEINIM (NGR), 7-3
65kg: Mohammad YOUSEFI (IRI) df. Nasrallah LALOUCH (ALG), 11-0
70kg: Nima ELAHIGHADI (IRI) df. Ayad IBRAHIM (EGY), 11-0
74kg: Mohammad MAKTABDAR (IRI) df. Waldemar MEYER GERALD (RSA), 10-0
86kg: Meysam MOSTAFA JOUKAR (IRI), df. Mohamed ZAGLOL (EGY), 10-0
97kg: Amir MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Soso TAMARO (NGR), 10-0
125kg: Seyed Reza MOUSAVI (IRI) df. Selim TRABELSI (TUN), 10-0