The President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria (TFN), Tayo Popoola, has praised the impressive performances of Nigerian athletes at the ongoing African Taekwondo Championships in Mali, describing their achievements as a testament to the country’s growing strength in the sport.
The championship, which has attracted athletes from more than 35 African countries, features some of the continent’s best competitors, including Olympic and world champions.
Popoola expressed satisfaction with the results recorded so far by Team Nigeria, noting that the athletes had exceeded expectations despite facing formidable opponents.
Leading Nigeria’s medal haul is Ability Udom, who secured a gold medal in the women’s K44 57kg category of the para-taekwondo event. Her victory marked a significant achievement for the country at the continental competition.
Nigeria also earned two bronze medals through Chidinma and Salaudeen Abdulazeez, who battled through tough contests to reach the podium.
Speaking on the athletes’ performances, Popoola said the championship has been highly competitive due to the quality of participants from across Africa.
According to her, many countries arrived with large contingents of athletes and some of their most decorated competitors, making every match challenging.
She also highlighted the performance of Joel, who competed in the heavyweight division against some of the continent’s top-ranked fighters.
“The championship is still ongoing and it has been very competitive. We have already won one gold and two bronze medals, with Ability Udom delivering an outstanding performance to claim gold in a very difficult category,” Popoola said.
“She performed exceptionally well, while Joel also faced a tough challenge in the heavyweight division against high-calibre opponents, including Olympic and world champions.”
The TFN president added that Nigeria’s athletes have shown determination and resilience throughout the tournament and remain focused on securing additional medals before the competition concludes.
“With more than 35 countries participating, this is one of the biggest taekwondo events on the continent. Several nations came with large teams, some with up to 30 athletes, but our representatives are giving their best,” she said.
“We still have more Nigerian athletes competing, and we are optimistic about our chances. Despite the strong opposition, our athletes are ready to face the best from across Africa, and we believe more medals will come our way.”
The African Taekwondo Championships continue in Mali, with Team Nigeria hoping to add to its medal tally in the remaining events.
