The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has praised Team Nigeria’s wrestlers for their patriotic commitment and spirited performances at the recently concluded 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, despite their failure to win a medal.

Adeniyi commended the athletes for their determination and dedication, noting that their progress to the semi-final and knockout stages reflected Nigeria’s growing competitiveness on the global wrestling scene.

He expressed optimism that the country would soon begin winning medals at the world level, assuring that the federation remained committed to providing the necessary support and enabling environment for athletes to achieve greater success.

The NWF president stressed that the federation would continue to appreciate the sacrifices of athletes representing the country, regardless of the outcome of their participation in international competitions.

He acknowledged that winning medals at the highest level requires time, sustained investment, proper preparation and regular exposure to quality international competitions.

According to him, Nigeria’s performances in Astana offered an opportunity to assess the progress made by its wrestlers in recent years while identifying areas that require improvement to bridge the gap with the world's leading wrestling nations.

"I want to commend our wrestlers for their patriotism, determination, and commitment in representing Nigeria at the World Wrestling Championships. As a federation, we will always appreciate the sacrifices and efforts of our athletes in representing this country, irrespective of the outcome. What matters is their commitment to national assignment and determination to give their best,” Adeniyi said.

"Medals are important, but they are not won overnight. We must continue to invest in our athletes, expose them to quality international competitions, and ensure that they have the necessary support to compete favourably against the best in the world,” he added.

Adeniyi explained that the federation's primary objective ahead of the championships was not limited to winning medals but also included exposing Nigerian wrestlers to the demands and intensity of elite international competition, which he described as crucial to their long-term development.

He further highlighted Nigeria’s participation with 11 wrestlers as a significant milestone, noting that it was the highest number of athletes the country had ever presented at the World Wrestling Championships.

The NWF boss said the achievement reflected the federation’s ongoing efforts to expand Nigeria’s presence and improve its competitiveness on the international wrestling stage.