Nigeria could only muster a second place finish at the just ended 13th Edition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Wrestling Tournament (TOLAC 2025).
It finished behind the tournament’s most successful country Senegal which had on a few occasions conceded top place finishing to Niger Republic; a country that alongside Mali and Burkina Faso withdrew membership from the regional bloc.
The best Nigeria had ever achieved was second position at the regional sport competition, which helps to build Regional Integration, Cultural Heritage, and Gender Inclusion.
In third place was Benin Republic which had a decent showing at the competition which ends on Saturday at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja
The tournament was part of the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebrations, reinforcing the organisation’s unwavering commitment to regional integration, youth empowerment, and cultural preservation.
In a remarkable display of athletic excellence and sportsmanship where Senegal secured 1st place, Nigeria claimed 2nd, and Benin achieved 3rd, the most significant achievement of the edition was the historic inclusion of female wrestlers, a landmark step toward gender equality in traditional sports, appropriately taking place on International Women’s Day.
This tournament has once again demonstrated the unifying power of sport, strengthening diplomatic ties across West Africa and fostering deeper regional solidarity.
As ECOWAS commemorates five decades of progress, TOLAC continues to serve as a catalyst for cross-border cooperation, paving the way for the international recognition of African wrestling and its enduring contribution to cultural identity and regional cohesion.
Michael Olugbode
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