Wrestling: Nigeria Army rules 1st CGC Military/Paramilitary Championship

... declares readiness for African Military Games 2024

Nigeria Army emerged champions of the 1st Comptroller General of Customs Military and Para Military National Wrestling Championship in Abuja.

The three-day tournament had host Customs, Nigeria Air Force, NSCDC, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Navy, FRSC and Nigeria Correctional Service compete in Greco-Roman, Men’s Freestyle, and Women’s Freestyle Wrestling at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.

Nigeria Army won 14 medals, 9 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze, to assert its dominance in the wrestling event amongst Military and Paramilitary Organisations.

The Acting Director of Physical Training, Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Abdulraheem Bello, applauded the wrestlers for their sterling performance at the championship.

Brig Gen Bello said the win strongly indicates that the Nigeria Army wrestling team is ready to make the nation proud at the forthcoming African Military Games (AMGA) 2024.

He added that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has provided the enabling environment and logistics for sports especially combat sports to thrive.

Bello said, “I want to applaud the wrestlers for putting up a good show by emerging first position at the just concluded 1st Comptroller General of Customs Military and Para Military National Wrestling Championship. 

Before the championship, the mandate of the wrestlers was to win convincingly and use the championship as preparation ahead of the African Military Games.   

“Most of the wrestlers who won gold medals are in the national team and have won laurels for the country. 

Hannah Reuben is an African Champion, Commonwealth Games medallist, and two-time Olympian; Tochukwu Okeke and Julius Adekunle are wrestlers who have dominated their various categories in the Greco-Roman. 

The Nigerian Army desires to continue making the country proud at International Championships.     

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has given the Department of Physical Training the mandate to win every available championship in the country and has provided the necessary support as well as logistics to excel. 

We plan to recruit athletes to fill the vacuum created by some of our elite athletes becoming coaches/referees.

“Our next point of action is to immediately return to camp and train hard for the African Military Games next November”, he added.

Nigeria Army emerge champions of 2024 Armed Forces Games

 

The Nigeria Army has emerged winners of the 2024 Armed Forces Games held at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna State.

The Nigeria Army won 264 medals consisting of 172 gold, 60 silver, and 32 bronze.

Nigeria Air Force placed second with a total of 129 medals (33 gold, 103 silver and 187 bronze) while Nigeria Navy finished 3rd place with 18 gold, 43 silver and 129 bronze.

The Acting Director of Physical Training Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Abdulraheem Bello has dedicated the success recorded at the Armed Force Games to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja for his immense contributions and support to sports.

Brig Gen Bello revealed that Nigeria Army personnel have always dominated the national teams of the various sporting federations adding that the results are testament to the support of the Army.

He said, “Winning the 2024 Armed Forces Games is a sign that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja is supporting sports in the Nigerian. The difference between our gold medal tally and second position is 139. Since Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja was appointed, the Nigeria Army has competed in all the National Championships in Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo, Shooting, Athletics, Handball, Volleyball and many others.

“This result will spur the Army to continue investing in their athletes in various sports because we have the potential of making Nigeria proud at the African, Commonwealth and Olympic Games in the near future”.

Brig Gen Bello charged the personnel to be good ambassadors of the Nigeria Army and ensure they continue to excel in their various sports.