Team Nigeria delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 African Taekwondo Championships in Bamako, Mali, securing three gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals at the continental competition.
The Nigerian contingent increased its medal haul during the Poomsae events, where Aderibigbe Faridah won gold in the Freestyle Poomsae category. Faridah also partnered Salawudeen Abdulafeez to claim a silver medal in the Pair Poomsae event.
Earlier in the tournament, Haruna Usman captured gold in the Poomsae U-40 Male category, while Para-Taekwondo athlete Mathew Udom secured Nigeria’s first gold medal in the -57kg Kyorugi division with a dominant display.
Nigeria’s bronze medals came through Joel Jordan in the men’s +87kg Kyorugi category, Chidinma Okoko in the women’s -62kg Kyorugi event, and Salawudeen Abdulafeez in the Poomsae U-30 Male division.
The championships, sanctioned by World Taekwondo as a G-4 ranking event, attracted top athletes from across the continent and provided competitors with valuable ranking points ahead of future international competitions.
Nigeria’s performance marked a significant achievement for the country's taekwondo programme, particularly as the team featured Para-Taekwondo athletes and Poomsae competitors as part of a broader effort to expand participation and improve competitiveness at the continental level.
Morocco emerged as the overall champions of the Kyorugi events after dominating the competition and winning eight gold medals.
Officials of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation praised the athletes for their outstanding performances, describing the medal haul as a testament to the progress being made in the development of the sport in the country.
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