Ghana, Nigeria dominate ECOWAS Kickboxing tournament

Ghana and Nigeria once again went neck-to-neck for top honours when the maiden ECOWAS International Kickboxing Friendship (EIKF) tournament threw down on Saturday night at the Lizzy Sports Complex in Accra, sharing honours in the seven-division fight tournament plus exhibition by veterans.

Hosts Ghana battled athletes from neighbours Ivory Coast, Togo, Nigeria and Lebanon as well as Turkey whose ambassador to Ghana was a special guest at the event sanctioned by eleven (11) member associations of the ECOWAS Kickboxing Federation Zone 2 who jointly organised the competition with the Ghana Kickboxing Federation.

The two West African heavyweights won three categories each as well as notching some silver and bronze medals to boot with Togo nicking their single gold medal in the juniors competition. In total, Nigeria won three gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals, Ghana had three gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals, Togo went home with one gold of course whilst Ivory Coast got one silver and three bronze medals. Lebanon had a solitary silver to boast of.

In the event, Ayodele Michael of Nigeria won gold in the 91 kg division with his countryman, Dennis Johnson winning

silver and Michael Adom of Ghana as well as another Nigerian, Dominic Nnaji both emerging with bronze medals.

The 75 kg category was won by Emmanuel Davis of Ghana, Oruepusu Chidi of Nigeria finished runner-up whilst Ghana’s Felix Ashiagbor and Niava Obed of Ivory Coast both got bronze.

71kg honours saw Ghana’s Isaac Commey earn the gold medal, beating compatriot, Daniel Adjei into second spot as Bai Landry of Ivory Coast and Aminu Kwesi shared bronze.

Ghana’s Selom Darko won first place in the 67 kg division, second was Ahmed Shaban of Lebanon and Osaruwese Erahahon of Nigeria took third place.

In the 57 kg category, Oyeniyi Akeem of Nigeria won gold, Daniel Boateng of Ghana went home with the silver medal whilst Michael Vanderpuye also of Ghana finished third.

Nigeria also won the 63.5 kg division, and in emphatic fashion, Eweh Bernard scoring top honours with victory over compatriot, Prince Nwoye (silver) with yet another Nigerian, Ogundeji Olasukanmi taking bronze along with Ghana’s Samuel Laryea who also took home a bronze medal.

It was a different story however in the juniors competition however with Ali Ezedine of Togo who had the crowding chanting ‘Ali, Ali, Ali’ defeated much taller opponent, Konnan Carmel of Ivory Coast in the final with another Ivorian, Junior Gbagbo winning the bronze medal.

“It’s been a wonderful day of kickboxing and we are excited with the patronage, it’s a good start and we hope to make it better next year,” said President of WAKO African Kickboxing Confederation Zone 2, Parfait Doukrou at the end of the competition

Isaac ‘The Legend’ Aikins of Ghana knocked out old foe, Sarouma Malik of Togo in an exciting exhibition of veterans to climax the thrilling night of fighting at the Lizzy Sports Complex inside the plush East Legon suburbs of the Ghanaian capital.