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Nigerian wrestler Oba Femi discusses transition from Olympic hopeful to WWE star
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Nigerian professional wrestler Isaac Odugbesan, known as Oba Femi in World Wrestling Entertainment, has detailed his journey from an Olympic medal hopeful in shot put to a WWE superstar. Earlier this month, Oba Femi defeated WWE veteran Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas in under five minutes. His victory involved dominating key moments, enduring Lesnar’s “F5,” and securing the win with a chokeslam and his finishing move, “Fall From Grace.” Oba Femi's rising profile is linked to his Nigerian background; he previously competed for the University of Lagos at the National University Games, winning individual honors in athletics before moving abroad in 2017. He continued track and field in the United States, winning the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2021 and 2022, and the outdoor title in 2020. By 2021, he joined WWE’s Next In Line initiative, which recruits collegiate athletes for professional wrestling. He stated that WWE contacted him via Instagram for a trial, and he signed with the company on December 8, 2021, after a tryout in August 2021.
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Nigeria's U20 women's national team, the Falconets, have completed a three-week training camp in Abuja as they prepare for their FIFA U20 Women's World Cup qualifying match against Malawi. The team will travel to Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, to host the first leg of the final qualifying round on Saturday, May 2. Head coach Moses Aduku expressed confidence in the team's readiness, highlighting their character, determination, and work on tactics, fitness, and cohesion. Team captain Joy Igbokwe called for Nigerian support, stating the team is prepared and focused on making the country proud. The Falconets aim for a strong first-leg advantage as they pursue qualification for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Poland, scheduled for September 5–26. Nigeria has qualified for every edition of the tournament since 2002.