..As ECOWAS stake $25,000 reward
By: Mercy Peter
Nigeria is to host the 13th edition of the Economic Community of West African States, African wrestling competition, NewsSpecng learnt.
Winners are expected to go home with $25,000 in the three day competition.
Nigeria fewer than 11 member countries have arrived Abuja.
Mr. Francis Chuks Njoaguani, Director, ECOWAS youth and sports development center said the event is part of the regional body’s 50th anniversary ceremony.
Njoaguani said the competition is slated for March 8th 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria.
He said there will be team and individual rewards.
Njoaguani who is also the acting resident ECOWAS representative based in Burkina Faso said for the team event the first position will earn $10,000, seconds positions $6,000 and third position 3000$
For individual event, he said each for the individual weight categories, first position $2,500, second $1,500 and the third place $1,000.
He revealed that the event will be round rubbing elimination until “we achieve the five finalists on the second day and the last day on the third we come back and have the semi finalists and final march for this year.
“ There will be medals and cash prizes and the first position for the team country will earn
“There will be medals and certificates for all the delegations as well.”
He explained that this is the first time it taking place in Nigeria since the sports center was established in 2011.
He said Nigeria was to host the new format in 2024 before it was pushed to 2025 to coincide with the regional body’s 50th anniversary.
He stressed, “This is a very big event for Nigeria as you notice the marathon was also held here we started the ecowas aniversary with sports stating with the marrathon
“This is the second activity in the series and it’s sports the ECOWAS is expecting 11 out of 12 member states of ecowas delegations have started arriving by the end of the day the 11 delegation will arrive including Niger the host
“This edition is special edition over 13 edition have been held in Niger and Senegal and all the edition features male wrestlers and this is the first edition to have female wrestlers this is a new innovation.
“We started by training female wrestlers and also female referees we have 20 female and we will have female officiating the event.”
