Combat Sports in Africa

After 60+ episodes since late 2021, Combat Sports in Africa is taking a deliberate hiatus to reset and reshape what’s next. Thank you to every guest, collaborator, and listener across Africa and every continent — we’ll be back. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

A quick Combat Sports in Africa update from Wuxi, China , where African athletes made their mark at the 2025 World Taekwondo Championships . Tunisia’s Wafa Masghouni and Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi , along with Egypt’s Seif Eissa , all struck gold. Check out the full results on the official World Taekwondo website , and read the feature “Wafa takes seamless step from junior to senior world champion.”...

Grit, grace, and the will to win capture the experience of Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy , the Malagasy judoka who made history by earning Madagascar’s first-ever World Judo Tour medal — a silver at the Qingdao Grand Prix 2025 . In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa , Laura shares what it took to adapt, stay focused, and show up — especially when things got tough. She reflects on the Qingdao G...

At the 2025 African Wrestling Championships in Casablanca, Egypt and Nigeria dominated the medal table — but the moment that stole the show came from Cameroon’s Cedric Abossolo. After years of near-misses, the 25-year-old stormed through the 92kg Freestyle bracket without conceding a single point, earning Cameroon its first Freestyle gold since 1998.    Follow Combat Sports in Africa on all platfo...

The 46th African Senior Judo Championships wrapped up with an electric Mixed Team competition in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Nine countries battled for continental supremacy, but it was Egypt and Algeria who delivered a heart-stopping final. After a 3-3 tie, the title was decided by golden score — with Egypt edging out Algeria to retain their crown. Angola defeated Senegal, and Tunisia overcame Camero...

On May 31, Nigerian wrestling icon Blessing Oborududu announced her retirement. A 14-time African champion and Nigeria’s first Olympic wrestling medalist, she now transitions into coaching. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

Senegalese Taekwondo athlete Tening Faye has become the first-ever medallist for her country at a World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, earning bronze in the women’s -44kg event in Fujairah, UAE.  Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

Kenya was the only African nation to compete at the 2025 Tbilisi Grand Slam — sending 10 judokas to one of the toughest judo tournaments on the IJF World Tour. In this episode, we briefly explore what that level of participation means for Kenya’s judo ambitions and the wider development of combat sports in Africa. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

On March 20th, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe became the first African and first woman elected as IOC President . We break down her five key priorities from the IOC manifesto. This is a simplified summary. For full details, read the official manifesto. News release (includes manifesto):  https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/kirsty-coventry-elected-ioc-president-the-first-female-president-in-ioc-history...

Africa’s top amateur MMA talent returns to Luanda for the 2025 IMMAF African Championships — will you be watching? Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa , we dive into United World Wrestling’s Regional Educational Development and Training Program (REDT) , which took place in Pretoria, South Africa. This impactful initiative brought together athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators from eight nations — South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Nigeria, Ecuador, and Zambia —for a week of training, c...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa , we spotlight Wisdom Boxing Gym in Accra, Ghana. Legendary Coach Ofori Asare shares his approach to developing elite boxers and reflects on his Lifetime Achievement Award. Rising star Theophilus Lopez Allotey discusses winning the National Super Flyweight Title, his journey from amateur to professional, and his upcoming fight this Friday, January 31. Plu...

In this first episode of 2025, we spotlight the African Union Sports Council's "Keep Moving" campaign, an initiative dedicated to promoting safe, equitable, and inclusive sporting environments across Africa. We explore the challenges faced by women and girls in sports and the solutions presented in the AUSC Keep Moving toolkit. Resources Mentioned: 📄 AUSC Keep Moving Toolkit Phase...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa , we speak with 21-year-old judoka Akira Nakajima, who proudly represents Uganda on the international stage while training in Japan. Akira shares his experiences at his first Grand Slam, his goals for the Los Angeles Olympics, and his hopes for the growth of judo in Uganda. We also discuss the importance of support for athletes to train and compete global...

Join us as Dr. Tsegaye Degineh shares his thoughts on the JJIF World Championship 2024 in Greece, the introduction of Contact Ju-Jitsu, and his Ju-Jitsu seminar in Ethiopia. Learn about his efforts to support the development of grappling sports in Ethiopia. Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram

In this episode of the Combat Sports in Africa podcast, we delve into the inspiring stories from the 2024 World Judo Championships Veterans held in Las Vegas. Over 1,100 athletes from 67 countries, aged 30 to over 70, showcased the unifying power of judo and the enduring spirit of competition. We shine a spotlight on Team Angola, whose remarkable enthusiasm and energy both on and off the tatami de...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa , we talk with South Africa’s Kiara Fegen, the newly crowned 2024 IMMAF Lightweight World Champion. Kiara takes us through her journey at the World Championships in Uzbekistan, sharing the key moments and strategies that led to her dominant win in the 70.3 kg division. From intense battles in the cage to the mindset and preparation that led to victory—Kie...

This episode of Combat Sports in Africa explores the debut of the World Taekwondo Virtual Championships in Singapore, where 120 athletes, including competitors from Rwanda and Lesotho, will test the limits of virtual combat. With VR tech at the forefront, Virtual Taekwondo is breaking new ground. Could virtual combat sports reshape sports engagement, accessibility, and popularity? Listen in as we...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa, we celebrate a historic victory as Senegal's Oumar "Reug Reug" Kane becomes Africa's first ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion. He defeated the undefeated Russian three-division champion Anatoly "Sladkiy" Malykhin in a thrilling five-round battle at Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. Join us as we delve into this monumental win...

In this episode of Combat Sports in Africa , we recap Francis Ngannou’s explosive return to mixed martial arts at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ngannou delivered a devastating first-round knockout over Renan Ferreira to claim the PFL Heavyweight Superfight Championship, dedicating the emotional victory to his late son, Kobe.  Congratulations to Francis—he continue...

Join us on the Combat Sports in Africa podcast as we reconnect with André Rosa, President of Judo Global São Tomé and Príncipe . In this insightful episode, we reflect on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to assess the performance of African judo athletes on the world stage.  André shares his analysis on what these results mean for the future of judo across the continent. We discuss the key lessons and...

In this episode of the Combat Sports in Africa podcast, we sit down with William Zalo Werenskiold, the CEO and founder of TRIBE Combat Sports —an Afro-Scandinavian MMA promotion based in West Africa. William shares the captivating origin story of TRIBE Combat Sports and what inspired him to focus on bringing high-quality MMA events to this vibrant region.  We delve into their mission to make a sig...

In this episode of the Combat Sports in Africa podcast, we feature Ebe Ghansah , a lifelong martial artist, combat sports athlete, and coach with an interesting sports journey. Ebe is a Gracie Barra Coach for the Black Belt Braulio Estima Team and trained at the prestigious Gracie Barra Main Academy in Rio de Janeiro. He has competed in various combat sports, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo a...

In this follow-up to our previous episode, "African Combat Sports Triumphs at Paris 2024: Celebrating the Olympic Medalists," we spotlight Tunisia's Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi, who secured a bronze medal in the men's taekwondo -58kg category at Paris 2024. Adding to his silver from Tokyo, Jendoubi continues to inspire as a two-time Olympic medalist and a leading figure in African...

A quick news update on the World Anti-Doping Agency's release of the 2025 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods , effective January 1, 2025. "WADA’s primary role is to develop, harmonize and coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries." Follow Combat Sports in Africa on facebook , YouTube and Instagram