#WrestleAlger

Cumba Mbali, Kherbache, John Win African Gold, Ascend into Top-Ten of World Rankings

Sunday, February 9, 2020 - 18:19 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

ALGER, Algeria (February 9) --- Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS), Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) and Ogbonna JOHN (NGR) ascended to the top-ten of the freestyle world rankings after they closed out the African Championships with Olympic-weight gold medals.

Cumba Mbali halted Adama DIATTA'S (SEN) quest to win his 10th African championship title, then went on to defeat Amas DANIEL (NGR) to defend his 2019 African crown. He jumped from 29th to 9th in the rankings with his 18-point gold-medal victory in Alger.

Cumba Mbali downed Diatta 3-2, in the semifinals, then avenged his All-African Games finals loss to Amas DANIEL (NGR) with the two-point victory in the gold-medal match. He scored the 4-2 come-from-behind win over Daniel after trailing 2-0 for the majority of the first period. A late takedown in the first period, and then again in the second period awarded Cumba Mbali his second African title in as many tries. 

Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) celebrates after winning the 57kg title. (Photo: Ben Mrad Bayrem) 

Abdelhak Kherbache blanked Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), 7-0, in the 57kg finals and moved into the top-ten of the world rankings. Kherbache, the defending African champion, moved up eight spots from his previous No. 16 ranking that he earned from finishing in 11th at the 2019 World Championships. He now sits two points ahead of Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) in the No. 8 spot. 

Ogbonna JOHN (NGR) is ranked seventh in the world at 74kg after winning his African gold on Sunday night. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Ogbonna John handled Ishak BOUKHORS (ALG), 5-1, in the 74kg finals and climbed to seventh in the world rankings. John’s gold on Sunday was worth 20 points, which sandwiched him between No. 6 Mao OKUI (JPN) and former-No.7 Kamil RYBICKI (POL). 

The Nigerian now has four African championship gold medals and one African Games title.

Algeria Wins Team Title on Home Soil
Algeria medaled in nine weight classes -- three of which were golds -- and claimed the freestyle team title on home soil. Abdelhak Kherbache, Abdelghani BENATALLAH (ALG) and Mohammed FARDJ (ALG) won gold medals and helped the host nation edge second-place Egypt by three points and third-place Tunisia by 33 points. 

RESULTS 

Final Freestyle Team Standings
GOLD - Algeria (183 points)
SILVER - Egypt (180 points)
BRONZE - Tunisia (150 points)
Fourth - Nigeria (83 points)
Fifth -  South Africa (82 points)

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD - Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) df. Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), 7-0 
BRONZE - Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) df. Fathi NASIR (SUD), 6-1 
BRONZE - Jakobo Tanki TAU (RSA) df.  Soufiane KABIL (MAR), 18-9

61kg 
GOLD - Abdelghani BENATALLAH (ALG) 
SILVER - Yousef Mohamed Yousef EISSA (EGY) 
BRONZE - Chakir ANSARI (MAR) 

65kg 
GOLD - Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS) df. Amas DANIEL (NGR), 4-2 
BRONZE - Fathi ISMAIL (EGY) df. Farouk JELASSI (TUN), via injury default
BRONZE - Amar LAISSAOUI (ALG) df. Adama DIATTA (SEN), 5-2 

70kg 
GOLD - Haithem DAKHLAOUI (TUN) 
SILVER - Ahmed Mohamed Elsayed ELMADBOH (EGY)
BRONZE - Ibrahim MOKHTARI (ALG) 

74kg
GOLD - Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR) df. Ishak BOUKHORS (ALG), 5-1  
BRONZE - Maher GHANMI (TUN) df. Mohamed CHAKIR (MAR), 10-0 
BRONZE - Amr HUSSEN (EGY) df. Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN), 11-0 

79kg
GOLD - Ayoub BARRAJ (TUN) 
SILVER - Saifeldin ELKOUMY (EGY) 
BRONZE - Mohammed BOUDRAA (ALG) 

86kg
GOLD - Khaled ELMOATAMADAWI (EGY) df. Roman MANITRA RAHARISON (MAD), 11-0 
BRONZE - Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) df. Sabri MNASRIYA (TUN), 9-1 
BRONZE - Ekerekeme AGIOMOR (NGR) df. Bedopassa BUASSAT DJONDE (GBS), 2-1 

92kg 
GOLD - Mohammed FARDJ (ALG) 
SILVER - Imed KADDIDI (TUN)
BRONZE - Mohamed ABDALLA (EGY) 

97kg 
GOLD - Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) df. Martin ERASMUS (RSA), 9-4
BRONZE - Soso TAMARAU (NGR) df. Hosam MERGHANY (EGY), 9-2 
BRONZE - Francisco Nkunga NGONDA (ANG) df. Amoussou Nicolas CAKPO (BEN), 10-0

125kg 
GOLD - Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) df. Djahid BERRAHAL (ALG), 10-0 
BRONZE - Johannes Jacobus KRIEL (RSA) df. Thiacka FAYE (SEN), via injury default

Obituary

Abdullah Movahed: Iranian Legend Who Elevated Wrestling to Art Form

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 10:44 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland, (May 1) -- Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI), one of the all-time greats of world wrestling and a dominant force in Freestyle during the 1960s, passed away in the United States on Thursday, April 30, after suffering a heart stroke. The Iranian legend was 86.

A member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, Movahed’s name became synonymous with technical brilliance and relentless discipline. A five-time world champion, an Olympic gold medalist and twice Asian Games winner, Movahed was at the forefront of an era of Iranian excellence on the global stage. Competing in the 68kg and 70kg Freestyle weight classes, Movahed achieved a level of sustained dominance rarely seen in the sport.

Born in March 1940 in Babolsar, in Iran’s Mazandaran province, Movahed was introduced to volleyball as a young boy and was known locally for his exploits as a spiker. However, he quit the sport as he felt he wasn’t tall enough and didn’t believe he was suited for it. Ultimately, it was on the wrestling mat that he would carve out his legacy. 

He went on to join the Tehran Javan Sports Club, and as a youngster, Movahed didn’t have it easy. He frequently lost to established wrestlers like Mohammad SANATGARAN (IRI). However, he persevered, and coaches recognized his rare blend of agility, intelligence, and composure under pressure. These traits would define his career.

Movahed emerged during a time when Iranian wrestling was rich in talent. He shared the stage with wrestling legends such as Gholamreza TAKHTI (IRI), Mansour MEHDIZADEH (IRI), Ebrahim SEYFPOUR (IRI), and Emamali HABIBI (IRI). In such a company, greatness was neither guaranteed nor easily attained, but Movahed’s rise was swift.

His breakthrough came in 1962, when the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Freestyle champions travelled to Iran for a series of friendly bouts. His win over Zarbag BERYASHVILI made him an overnight sensation in Iran, and the following year, Movahed made his debut for the Iranian national team at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

As a 23-year-old rookie, Movahed didn’t make much of an impact -- he shared sixth place with well-known Bulgarian wrestler Enyu VALCHEV (BUL). At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he showed signs of improvement and finished fourth. A year later, at the World Championships in Manchester, he claimed his first world title, beginning an extraordinary run.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

From 1965 to 1970, Movahed was virtually untouchable. He won six consecutive major global titles at 68kg and 70kg, including World Championships in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970, along with Olympic gold at the 1968 Summer Olympics. That 1968 triumph, often cited as the pinnacle of his career, showcased his tactical mastery and unyielding determination. He also won the gold medal at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games.

He returned for the 1972 Summer Olympics, but an unfortunate shoulder injury cut his campaign short, preventing a final chapter that might have further illuminated his already illustrious record. After the Games, Movahed, who had a master’s degree, moved to the USA, where he pursued a PhD at George Washington University. He continued to live there after earning his doctorate and worked as a mechanic.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

Beyond his medals, Movahed’s legacy lies in the standard he set. He helped define a golden generation of Iranian wrestling and inspired countless athletes who followed in his footsteps. His induction into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame secured his place among the all-time greats.

In mourning his passing, the wrestling world remembers not just a champion, but a craftsman whose sustained excellence elevated freestyle wrestling to an art form.