The Namibian wrestling team delivered a commendable performance at the African Continental Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, earning multiple medals and showcasing promising talent across various categories.
Leading the way for Namibia in the Greco-Roman division was Lisias Shipopyeni in the 55kg category, who secured an impressive silver medal after a series of strong performances.
Shipopyeni defeated opponents from Tunisia on points and South Africa by technical superiority before losing to a formidable Egyptian wrestler in the final.
According to the Namibia Wrestling Federation, Shipopyeni displayed excellent technical ability and composure throughout the tournament, underlining his growing stature on the continental stage.
Also competing in Greco-Roman wrestling, Petrus Haimbodi (60kg) narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after finishing fourth out of seven wrestlers. He lost a closely contested bronze-medal bout against South Africa, but his overall performance highlighted his competitiveness at the elite level.
In freestyle wrestling, Henrico Durand (60kg) participated in his first African Championships and placed seventh out of eight wrestlers. Although he did not reach the podium, the federation said the experience provided valuable international exposure that will aid his future development.
Namibia’s U/20 wrestlers also produced encouraging performances. Calvin Dreyer finished fourth in his category after consistently competing well throughout the event.
Stefanovic Stephanus, competing in his first international tournament, delivered a standout performance, defeating a South African opponent and finishing fourth among five wrestlers. His performance was viewed as a promising start to his international wrestling career.
Lazarus Haimbodi (63kg) faced a difficult draw in the U/20 division and lost his opening two bouts, which ended his medal hopes. Despite the setback, he showed resilience and determination.
Haimbodi, however, bounced back strongly in the senior division, where he claimed a bronze medal and proved his ability to compete successfully at higher level competition.
In the senior Greco-Roman 55kg category, Joel Iipinge started strongly with a victory over South Africa before suffering defeats against wrestlers from Egypt and Algeria in later rounds. Both opponents eventually went on to win gold and silver medals, respectively, highlighting the quality of opposition he encountered.
Virinao Nguatjiti (60kg) endured a difficult campaign early on, losing his opening four matches in a highly competitive bracket.
However, he produced one of Namibia’s most memorable moments of the tournament when he defeated Algeria’s Abdelkarim Fergat, a four-time African champion and two-time Olympian, 4-2 on points.
The upset victory demonstrated Nguatjiti’s fighting spirit and immense potential for future international success.
In the senior women’s 59kg division, Ester Abraham secured a silver medal after an outstanding run to the final, where she eventually lost to a strong Nigerian opponent.
The federation praised Abraham’s determination and commitment, describing her silver-medal achievement as a reflection of her hard work, resilience and dedication.
The Namibia Wrestling Federation also commended national head coach Luis Forcelledo Paz for his leadership and commitment to the athletes and programme over the past year.
“These results stand as a true testament to his vision, structured approach, and relentless pursuit of excellence within Namibian wrestling,” the federation said.
Assistant coach Kevin Vleermuis was also praised for his contribution to the team’s preparation and athlete development in recent months.
Overall, Namibia’s campaign in Egypt yielded multiple silver medals, a bronze medal and several near-podium finishes, highlighting the steady growth and competitiveness of the country’s wrestlers on the African stage.
The federation further noted that the performances of debutants and younger wrestlers were particularly encouraging, as the exposure gained against top continental competitors will play a vital role in the long-term development of Namibian wrestling.