The President of the African Armwrestling Federation and the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, Charles Osei-Asibey, has set the tone for a historic showdown as Accra prepares to host the African Armwrestling Championship 2026.
Speaking with Sports247 ahead of the grand opening, Osei-Asibey expressed strong confidence in the growth, structure, and future of the sport across the continent, describing the championship as a defining moment for African armwrestling.
“Armwrestling is here to stay. It is a sport to trust,” he declared.
The championship, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 African Games in Cairo, Egypt, has drawn over 350 athletes from 21 countries, turning Accra into the epicenter of strength sports in Africa.
From Osei-Asibey’s perspective, the event goes beyond competition, it is a strategic platform for development, unity, and long-term sustainability of the sport.
He highlighted a key statistic that underscores the sport’s rapid rise: between 75 to 80 percent of registered athletes are teenagers.
“This shows a brighter future for armwrestling in Africa,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of youth participation in building a strong foundation for the sport.
The African armwrestling boss also acknowledged the critical role played by Ghanaian institutions in delivering the event, including the Ministry of Sports, National Sports Authority, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), as well as the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Immigration Service.
According to him, their support has been instrumental in ensuring a smooth and secure championship.
With countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and others in attendance, Osei-Asibey expects a highly competitive tournament that will showcase the continent’s growing strength and technical depth.
He also called on Ghanaians and sports fans to turn out in large numbers to support the event, stressing that the success of the championship will further cement Africa’s place on the global armwrestling map.
As the opening ceremony approaches, Osei-Asibey remains confident that the championship will deliver both in organization and competition.
For him, Accra 2026 is not just an event, it is a statement of Africa’s rising power in armwrestling.
