The 46th African Senior Judo Championships wrapped up with an electric Mixed Team competition in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Nine countries battled for continental supremacy, but it was Egypt and Algeria who delivered a heart-stopping final. After a 3-3 tie, the title was decided by golden score — with Egypt edging out Algeria to retain their crown. Angola defeated Senegal, and Tunisia overcame Cameroon to round out the podium with bronze. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on all platf...

At the 2025 African Wrestling Championships in Casablanca, Egypt and Nigeria dominated the medal table — but the moment that stole the show came from Cameroon’s Cedric Abossolo. After years of near-misses, the 25-year-old stormed through the 92kg Freestyle bracket without conceding a single point, earning Cameroon its first Freestyle gold since 1998. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on all platforms for more stories from the frontline of the continent’s combat sports scene. Follow ...

On May 31, Nigerian wrestling icon Blessing Oborududu announced her retirement. A 14-time African champion and Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medalist, she now transitions into coaching. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

Senegalese Taekwondo athlete Tening Faye has become the first-ever medallist for her country at a World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, earning bronze in the women’s -44kg event in Fujairah, UAE. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

Kenya was the only African nation to compete at the 2025 Tbilisi Grand Slam — sending 10 judokas to one of the toughest judo tournaments on the IJF World Tour. In this episode, we briefly explore what that level of participation means for Kenya’s judo ambitions and the wider development of combat sports in Africa. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

On March 20th, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe became the first African and first woman elected as IOC President. We break down her five key priorities from the IOC manifesto. This is a simplified summary. For full details, read the official manifesto. News release (includes manifesto): https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/kirsty-coventry-elected-ioc-president-the-first-female-president-in-ioc-history Bio: https://www.olympics.com/ioc/mrs-kirsty-coventry Follow Combat Sports in Africa on face...

Africa’s top amateur MMA talent returns to Luanda for the 2025 IMMAF African Championships — will you be watching? Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa, we dive into United World Wrestling’s Regional Educational Development and Training Program (REDT), which took place in Pretoria, South Africa. This impactful initiative brought together athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators from eight nations—South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Nigeria, Ecuador, and Zambia—for a week of training, coaching, and competition. From youth development to elite-level courses and tournaments, this event pl...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa, we spotlight Wisdom Boxing Gym in Accra, Ghana. Legendary Coach Ofori Asare shares his approach to developing elite boxers and reflects on his Lifetime Achievement Award. Rising star Theophilus Lopez Allotey discusses winning the National Super Flyweight Title, his journey from amateur to professional, and his upcoming fight this Friday, January 31. Plus, Sarah Asare highlights the gym’s impactful social media presence.Follow Combat Sports in Africa...

In this first episode of 2025, we spotlight the African Union Sports Council's "Keep Moving" campaign, an initiative dedicated to promoting safe, equitable, and inclusive sporting environments across Africa. We explore the challenges faced by women and girls in sports and the solutions presented in the AUSC Keep Moving toolkit.Resources Mentioned:📄 AUSC Keep Moving Toolkit Phase 1: sportscouncil.au.int/en/documents/2024-11-04/ausc-keep-moving-toolkit-phase-1📢 Tegla Loroupe Joins the Campaign:...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa, we speak with 21-year-old judoka Akira Nakajima, who proudly represents Uganda on the international stage while training in Japan. Akira shares his experiences at his first Grand Slam, his goals for the Los Angeles Olympics, and his hopes for the growth of judo in Uganda. We also discuss the importance of support for athletes to train and compete globally. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

Join us as Dr. Tsegaye Degineh shares his thoughts on the JJIF World Championship 2024 in Greece, the introduction of Contact Ju-Jitsu, and his Ju-Jitsu seminar in Ethiopia. Learn about his efforts to support the development of grappling sports in Ethiopia.Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

In this episode of the Combat Sports in Africa podcast, we delve into the inspiring stories from the 2024 World Judo Championships Veterans held in Las Vegas. Over 1,100 athletes from 67 countries, aged 30 to over 70, showcased the unifying power of judo and the enduring spirit of competition. We shine a spotlight on Team Angola, whose remarkable enthusiasm and energy both on and off the tatami demonstrate the unyielding fire that still burns within these competitors. Their passion and determ...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa, we talk with South Africa’s Kiara Fegen, the newly crowned 2024 IMMAF Lightweight World Champion. Kiara takes us through her journey at the World Championships in Uzbekistan, sharing the key moments and strategies that led to her dominant win in the 70.3 kg division. From intense battles in the cage to the mindset and preparation that led to victory—Kiera shares her personal journey to becoming the 2024 Lightweight World Champion. Follow Combat...

This episode of Combat Sports in Africa explores the debut of the World Taekwondo Virtual Championships in Singapore, where 120 athletes, including competitors from Rwanda and Lesotho, will test the limits of virtual combat. With VR tech at the forefront, Virtual Taekwondo is breaking new ground. Could virtual combat sports reshape sports engagement, accessibility, and popularity? Listen in as we dive into this exciting blend of technology and combat sports.Links:World Taekwondo Virtual Champ...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa, we celebrate a historic victory as Senegal's Oumar "Reug Reug" Kane becomes Africa's first ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion. He defeated the undefeated Russian three-division champion Anatoly "Sladkiy" Malykhin in a thrilling five-round battle at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. Join us as we delve into this monumental win and its impact on African MMA.Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa, we recap Francis Ngannou’s explosive return to mixed martial arts at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ngannou delivered a devastating first-round knockout over Renan Ferreira to claim the PFL Heavyweight Superfight Championship, dedicating the emotional victory to his late son, Kobe. Congratulations to Francis—he continues to inspire the combat sports world worldwide. We hope his success opens up more opportunitie...

Join us on the Combat Sports in Africa podcast as we reconnect with André Rosa, President of Judo Global São Tomé and Príncipe. In this insightful episode, we reflect on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to assess the performance of African judo athletes on the world stage. André shares his analysis on what these results mean for the future of judo across the continent. We discuss the key lessons and takeaways for African judokas from their Olympic experience, examine the progress of judo dev...

In this episode of the Combat Sports in Africa podcast, we feature Ebe Ghansah, a lifelong martial artist, combat sports athlete, and coach with an interesting sports journey. Ebe is a Gracie Barra Coach for the Black Belt Braulio Estima Team and trained at the prestigious Gracie Barra Main Academy in Rio de Janeiro. He has competed in various combat sports, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo and amateur mixed martial arts. Ebe also represented Great Britain in Taekwondo at the 1988 Seoul O...

In this episode of the Combat Sports in Africa podcast, we sit down with William Zalo Werenskiold, the CEO and founder of TRIBE Combat Sports—an Afro-Scandinavian MMA promotion based in West Africa. William shares the captivating origin story of TRIBE Combat Sports and what inspired him to focus on bringing high-quality MMA events to this vibrant region. We delve into their mission to make a significant impact on both the African and global MMA scenes, discuss the unique challenges they'...