The Nigerian Wrestling Federation, NWF, is set to establish a training camp at Iowa State University in the United States as part of preparations for the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The initiative, approved by NWF President Bashir Adeniyi, is designed to bring together Nigerian wrestlers based in different parts of the United States for collective training ahead of the championship, scheduled for Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.
The federation announced the plan in a statement issued in Abuja, saying the camp would provide an opportunity for Nigerian wrestlers studying and competing in the U.S. to train together and strengthen preparations for the global competition.
Several of Nigeria’s top wrestlers currently studying in the United States are expected to participate, while home-based wrestlers who hold valid U.S. visas will also be eligible to join the programme.
The NWF said the camp would not be restricted to established national team athletes, adding that Nigerian-born wrestlers living in the United States who are eligible and willing to represent Nigeria would also be allowed to participate.
According to the federation, the arrangement is expected to create a pathway for identifying talented wrestlers of Nigerian descent and integrating them into the national team structure.
The planned camp comes as Nigeria begins preparations for the senior World Championships, one of the major events on the international wrestling calendar.
Also Read:Â Lagos to host Commonwealth fencing championships
United World Wrestling, UWW, lists the competition as a senior championship featuring men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling.
The 2026 championship was originally scheduled to take place in Manama, Bahrain, but UWW announced in May that Astana had been selected as the replacement host.
The decision followed concerns over the geopolitical situation in the Gulf region and its potential impact on international travel.
The tournament will be held at Barys Arena in Astana from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. The Kazakh capital previously hosted the World Championships in 2019, when close to 1,000 wrestlers participated.
Reacting to the NWF initiative, Nigeria’s women’s wrestling coach, Purity Akuh, expressed appreciation to the federation’s leadership, describing the proposed Iowa camp as an important opportunity for Nigerian wrestlers.
He added that exposure to international-standard training environments could help improve the preparation and competitiveness of Nigerian athletes.
The federation’s decision to establish the camp in the United States also provides an opportunity to consolidate the Nigerian wrestling community abroad while giving athletes already based there a structured route into national team preparations.
With the World Championships less than three months away, the NWF will now look to use the camp to improve athletes’ preparation while widening the pool of wrestlers available for selection to Nigeria’s team for the Astana championships.
NAN
