Nigeria’s taekwondo team has once again demonstrated that the country’s sporting talent extends far beyond the more familiar arenas of football and athletics, delivering a remarkable performance at the 2026 African Taekwondo Championships in Bamako, Mali.
By the close of competition at the World Taekwondo-sanctioned G-4 tournament held at the Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga, the Nigerian contingent had amassed seven medals which comprises of three gold, one silver and three bronze, marking one of the country's most encouraging outings on the continental stage.
The gold rush began with Para-Taekwondo athlete Mathew Udom, whose commanding display in the -57kg Kyorugi category earned Nigeria its first top-place finish of the championship. The momentum continued when Haruna Usman rose to the occasion in the Poomsae U-40 Male category, securing another gold medal and reinforcing Nigeria's growing strength in technical taekwondo events.
As the competition progressed, the Poomsae team ensured the country's medal count continued to climb. Aderibigbe Faridah produced an outstanding performance to win gold in the Freestyle Poomsae category, adding a third gold medal to Nigeria's tally. Faridah was also instrumental in another podium finish, teaming up with Salawudeen Abdulafeez to claim silver in the Pair Poomsae event.
The championship also produced several bronze-medal performances. Joel Jordan reached the podium in the men's +87kg Kyorugi division, while Chidinma Okoko secured bronze in the women's -62kg Kyorugi category. Her campaign included a quarterfinal victory over Mali's Samake Goundo before she narrowly missed a place in the final after falling in the semifinals. Abdulafeez further underlined his versatility by collecting another medal, this time bronze in the Poomsae U-30 Male event.
The final medal count reflected a team that delivered across multiple categories and disciplines, particularly in Poomsae, where Nigerian athletes repeatedly stepped up when opportunities emerged.
That outcome would have pleased Nigeria Taekwondo Federation President, Tayo Popoola, who had earlier challenged the athletes to push beyond their initial success.
“I know you can do it, so I need some more,” she said after Nigeria secured its first gold medal.
“We are still competing in the Poomsae events and we hope to secure medals in various categories.
“I trust our Poomsae athletes to deliver and improve our position on the medal table.”
The athletes responded exactly as requested. By the end of the tournament, Nigeria had transformed an early breakthrough into a seven-medal campaign that showcased depth, resilience and promise for the future.
Although Morocco finished as the overall champions after sweeping eight gold medals in the Kyorugi events, Nigeria left Bamako with its own success story, one built on determination, strong performances across both Kyorugi and Poomsae, and a growing reputation as a force to watch in African taekwondo.
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