By our reporter 3.6.2026
Nigeria Taekwondo Federation president Tayo Popoola has praised the heartwarming performances of Nigerian taekwondo players at the recent African Taekwondo Championships in Bamako, Mali.
Nigeria won a total of seven medals…three gold, one silver and one bronze, a remarkable feat in recent times for the NTF and also a seeming return to recognition in African taekwondo, where Nigeria had taken a back seat.
Ability Mathew Udom won gold in the Para Taekwondo category, Haruna Usman in Poomsae and Aderibigbe Faridah in Kyorugi (sparring).
The bronze medals were won by Joel Jordan, Chidinma Okoko and Salaudeen Abdulazeez, while the country’s lone silver medal came through the combined efforts of Abdulafeez and Faridah in the Poomsae event.
According to Popoola, the efforts of the Nigeria team boiled down to determination and discipline.
“The remarkable performance of our athletes reflects their dedication, hard work and resilience, as well as the commitment of the coaches and support personnel who represented Nigeria with distinction,” Popoola said.
According to the federation, the achievements recorded in Bamako will serve as added motivation to continue investing in athlete development and preparations for future international competitions.
Nigeria Taekwondo team...