Nigeria is gearing up for its second appearance at the 2025 World Sambo Championships in Kyrgyzstan, scheduled to be held from November 7 to 9 in Bishkek. The country’s participation marks its reentry onto the international stage, with the sport of Sambo, which combines elements from judo, jujutsu, boxing, and traditional wrestling, gaining popularity worldwide. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Sambo has been steadily growing in Africa.
The Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS) organizes the World Sambo Championships, which serve as the pinnacle of competition in the sport, featuring top-tier athletes across various categories, including Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo, and Blind Sambo (SVI1).
Nigeria will be represented by a team of three athletes in the Combat and Blind Sambo categories at the upcoming championships. Fatai Balogun will compete in the Men’s 88kg Combat Sambo division, while Samuel Kekere and Sodiq Ajibade will participate in the Blind Sambo categories. Kekere, who made history as the first African to compete in Blind Sambo in 2024, aims to improve upon his previous performance, while Ajibade will make his debut at the World Championships, aspiring to achieve Nigeria’s first podium finish in the sport.
Expressing gratitude for the support from international and national federations, Kekere emphasized the significance of Blind Sambo in providing visually impaired athletes with a platform to demonstrate their abilities.
The 2025 World Sambo Championships will offer a total prize fund of $341,000, to be evenly distributed among all disciplines. Gold medalists will receive $4,000, silver medalists $3,000, and bronze medalists $2,000. The competitions will feature a repechage system for Sport Sambo but not for Combat Sambo.
Apart from the athletes, Loveth Howell, President of the Sambo Association of Nigeria, and Sheriff Hammed will represent Nigeria at the World Sambo Congress in Bishkek. Their participation aims to enhance Nigeria’s relationship with FIAS and explore new avenues for the sport’s development, from grassroots engagement to high-level competition. Nigeria’s comeback at the World Sambo Championships underscores its progress in the globally respected martial art.
