By Ifeanyi Eduzor
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) is hopeful of eventually sending athletes to the 2019 African Senior Wrestling Championships in Tunisia later this month after receiving ‘verbal commitment’ from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The NWF failed to register majority of the 20 athletes it intends to take to the continental showpiece in Hammamet before the close of entries on Wednesday, March 5, 2019 due to paucity of funds.
NWF President Daniel Igali revealed that after getting assurances from the Sports Ministry to sponsor the team to the African Championships, he will seek an extension to the registration deadline from the Tunisian Wrestling Federation.
READ ALSO:From bed rest, Taiwo Ogunjobi takes eternal rest this week
“I spoke with the Permanent Secretary of the Sports Ministry, Adesola Olusola and he made a verbal commitment that the Ministry will sponsor 18 athletes to the competition,” Igali disclosed.
The NWF added: “The onus now lies on the federation to source for funds to enable us get the licenses of the athletes and their accommodation fees. We are in a very difficult situation right now, but I will try to persuade the Tunisian Wrestling Federation to give us a few more days of extension to register our athletes.”
Igali also informed that as a result of the stringent financial situation, the NWF will only send 20 athletes to the competition.
As hosts in 2018, Nigeria paraded 90 athletes at the tournament in Port Harcourt, featuring a wrestler in all the weight categorises in the cadet, junior and senior levels
