Nigeria recorded an impressive performance at the 2026 African Taekwondo Championships in Bamako, Mali, winning a total of seven medals at the World Taekwondo-sanctioned G-4 tournament.
The Nigerian team secured three gold medals, one silver, and three bronze medals during the competition.
In the Poomsae events, Aderibigbe Faridah won gold in the Freestyle Poomsae category and later teamed up with Salawudeen Abdulafeez to claim silver in the Pair Poomsae event.
Haruna Usman also won gold in the Poomsae U-40 Male category, while Para-Taekwondo athlete Mathew Udom delivered Nigeria’s first gold medal after triumphing in the men’s -57kg Kyorugi event.
The bronze medals came through Joel Jordan in the men’s +87kg Kyorugi division, Chidinma Okoko in the women’s -62kg Kyorugi category, and Salawudeen Abdulafeez in the Poomsae U-30 Male event.
Morocco emerged as the overall champions of the Kyorugi competition after winning eight gold medals.
Nigeria Taekwondo Federation President, Tayo Popoola, praised the athletes for their strong showing and had earlier urged them to win more medals.
The athletes responded positively, improving Nigeria’s position on the medal table with their outstanding performances in the Poomsae events.



