Nigerian athletes Rukayat Taiwo and Elizabeth Aseso are set to become the first African women to compete in Blind Sambo at the World Cup in Yerevan, Armenia.
The World SAMBO Cup will run from April 11, 2026 to April 12, 2026, featuring Blind Sambo as one of three disciplines.
Taiwo, a Lagos State champion, will compete in the 54kg division, while Aseso fights in the 59kg category.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that men in the SVI1 class will contest the 64kg, 79kg and 98kg divisions, while women compete in the 54kg and 59kg categories.
Vice-President of the Nigeria Sambo Association, Sherif Hammed, described the outing as another milestone for the country.
Hammed said: “Since our debut in 2024, Nigeria has been at the forefront of Blind Sambo, which is gaining global recognition, particularly within the Olympic community.
“We are set to become the first African nation to feature in female Blind Sambo at the World Cup and hope to make history with medals.”
Nigeria’s presence in the discipline has grown steadily.
Samuel Oladele Kekere became the first Nigerian and African blind sambist at the 2024 World Cup.
Sodiq Ajibade later secured Africa’s first medal, winning bronze at the 2025 edition.
The 2026 World Cup will also feature Sport Sambo and Combat Sambo.
Sport Sambo includes seven weight categories each for men and women, while Combat Sambo allows striking techniques and a broader range of moves.
Blind Sambo continues to expand globally.
The competition will hold at the Gazprom Training and Sports Complex, with classification for visually impaired athletes scheduled to begin on April 9.
Organisers said the event aims to strengthen international ties, improve athlete rankings and advance Sambo’s Olympic aspirations.
