The Nigeria Sambo Federation has set its sights on a podium finish at the World Sambo Cup in Yerevan, Armenia. Two blind women sambists, Rukayat Taiwo and Elizabeth Aseso, are set to make history as the first African women to compete in blind SAMBO at the World Cup. The competition will take place from April 11 to 12, with Taiwo competing in the 54kg category and Aseso featuring in the 59kg division.
The Vice President of the Nigeria Sambo Association, Sheriff Hammed, made the federation’s ambitions clear, stating that the goal is to make the podium with both athletes while approaching the competition with a winning mindset focused on gold.
Nigeria’s presence at the competition marks another milestone in the country’s growing influence in the sport. Since its debut in 2024, Nigeria has been at the forefront of blind SAMBO, which is gaining global recognition within the Olympic community.
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Rukayat Taiwo, who will be competing on the world stage for the first time, said she is fully prepared for the challenge and expressed happiness at being part of history for Nigeria and Africa. The 2026 World Cup will feature three disciplines: Sport SAMBO, Combat SAMBO, and Blind SAMBO, with classification for visually impaired athletes beginning on April 9.
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