President arrives in Port Harcourt on Wednesday to assess facilities

Following Rivers State government’s decision to host next year’s Senior African Wrestling Championship in Port Harcourt, the President of United World Wrestling – Africa, Fouad Meskout, will arrive in the state on Wednesday to inspect the facilities.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had earlier in the year directed the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) to bid for the 2018 hosting rights of the championship in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Sports.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, NWF President, Daniel Igali, said Meskout would be in Rivers State to scrutinise facilities for possible consideration next year, adding, “while in Port Harcourt, he will pay a courtesy call on the governor, parley with the city officials and relevant stakeholders.

“On July 27, Mr. Meskout will pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung and the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) President, Habu Gumel, in Abuja,” he said.

Igali, who is also the chairman, Technical and Development Commission of the NOC, said the certification of the facilities would help in securing the hosting rights for the championship.

“If the facilities meet the required hosting standards, Nigeria will be given hosting rights against Tunis, another bidding city to the Senior Africa Wrestling Championships. And this means the nation will be hosting the championship for the very first time in our history,” he concluded.

In this year’s edition held in Marrakech, Morocco, the Nigerian female wrestlers emerged the overall champions of the Senior African Wrestling championships.