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The 12th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament (TOLAC).

From 17 to 19 March 2023, the 12th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament (TOLAC) was held in Niger. This edition saw the participation of sixty wrestlers from 14 countries in the West African region. Adopted in November 1986 by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers as a community sport, the first edition of TOLAC was held in Niamey in 2001, with three countries taking part (Niger, Nigeria and Burkina Faso). It has become a sporting and cultural forum that contributes to promoting regional integration and strengthening ties of friendship between communities and Member States. This year’s tournament saw the participation of 14 member states. This figure is the result of the efforts made by the Commission through the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development (CDJS), the tournament’s organiser, and its inclusion in the federations’ calendars. The host country for this 12th edition, Niger, won three gold medals in the individual events by weight category and the trophy for the best team at the end of the competition. Gold medals were also won in the 66kg category by Djami-lou Bakoye, Mansour Issa (76kg) and Ibrahim Aboubacar (86kg). In the individual bouts, in the 120kg category, the match between Nigeria’s Benson Godwill and Senegal’s Modou Faye saw Senegal claim the gold medal. The Gambian wrestler also won the gold medal ahead of Niger’s Aïbo Hassan in the 100kg category. Niger won a total of four gold medals and one silver. Senegal, for its part, took home two gold medals and one silver. The Gambia won one gold and one silver. Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire each won a bronze medal. The efforts of the Nigerian wrestlers saw them win one silver and one bronze medal. Guinea-Bissau took home two bronze medals. Niger’s Minister for Youth and Sport, HE Adamou Sékou Doro, and the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Niger, HE N’Dri Guillaume Gnamien on behalf of Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, the European Union Ambassador to Niger, HE Salvador Pinto Da França, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Niger, HE Mr Muhammed Sani Usman, and the Director of the Centre for Youth and Sports Development took part in the awards ceremony for the winners. #ecowas #cedeao #cdjs