The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has charged members of Team Nigeria to demonstrate patriotism, commitment and determination as they prepare for the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

 Adeniyi gave the charge on Thursday when he visited the Nigerian wrestling team’s training camp in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where preparations for the global championship have intensified ahead of the competition scheduled for October 24 to November 1.

 The NWF president commended the athletes for remaining in camp despite the October 1 public holiday, describing their decision as a demonstration of dedication to national service and their determination to represent Nigeria on the international stage.

 He praised the wrestlers for putting aside personal commitments to continue their preparations, noting that their presence in camp on Nigeria’s Independence Day reflected the patriotic spirit required to compete at the highest level.

 Adeniyi urged the athletes to remain focused and disciplined during the final phase of their preparations, stressing that their performance in Kazakhstan would provide an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s strength and potential in wrestling.

 He also charged the wrestlers to approach the championships with confidence and the mindset of athletes capable of producing outstanding performances against the world’s best.

 The NWF boss said the federation was determined to use the World Championships to make an ambitious statement about the progress and potential of Nigerian wrestling.

 According to him, the federation has made deliberate efforts to strengthen preparations for the competition by providing the athletes with the necessary training environment and support.

 “It is also Nigeria’s Independence Day, so I felt this was an opportunity to identify with our athletes. They have been in camp for about two weeks now, preparing for a very important competition in the coming weeks.

 “They will be representing Nigeria at the World Championships in Kazakhstan, and they have been working hard to fine-tune their strategies and get themselves ready for the challenge.

 “We want to support and motivate them to achieve the best possible results for Nigeria in Kazakhstan. Olympic qualification tickets will also be at stake, so this is not just another World Championships,” he said.

 Adeniyi said the federation’s commitment must be matched by the dedication of the athletes, stressing that success at the global level requires collective responsibility among administrators, coaches and wrestlers.

 He encouraged the team to remain united and maintain a strong team spirit, urging the athletes to draw motivation from the privilege of wearing the Nigerian colours.

 The NWF president expressed confidence in the quality and determination of the wrestlers in camp, while challenging them to seize the opportunity to surprise the wrestling world with their performances.

 He assured the team of the federation’s continued support and urged the athletes to give their best in Astana, noting that their efforts would contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s reputation in international wrestling.

 “For the women, where we have a very big chance, we’re going with about 10 of them. For the men, we’re going with three. And then we have our athletes who are also going to be representing them.

 “We want to wish them well, encourage them to remain focused and ensure that they have the support and motivation they need to perform at their best,” Adeniyi added.

 Dignitaries present during the visit included United World Wrestling (UWW) Bureau Member, Hon. Daniel Igali; NWF Board Member, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, OON; and Acting Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Deputy Comptroller Adaniya Farouk, among other officials.