Cumba Mbali, Kherbache, John Win African Gold, Ascend into Top-Ten of World Rankings

Sunday, February 9, 2020 - 18:19 By Eric Olanowski

ALGER, Algeria (February 9) --- Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS), Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) and Ogbonna JOHN (NGR) ascended to the top-ten of the freestyle world rankings after they closed out the African Championships with Olympic-weight gold medals.

Cumba Mbali halted Adama DIATTA'S (SEN) quest to win his 10th African championship title, then went on to defeat Amas DANIEL (NGR) to defend his 2019 African crown. He jumped from 29th to 9th in the rankings with his 18-point gold-medal victory in Alger.

Cumba Mbali downed Diatta 3-2, in the semifinals, then avenged his All-African Games finals loss to Amas DANIEL (NGR) with the two-point victory in the gold-medal match. He scored the 4-2 come-from-behind win over Daniel after trailing 2-0 for the majority of the first period. A late takedown in the first period, and then again in the second period awarded Cumba Mbali his second African title in as many tries.

Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) celebrates after winning the 57kg title. (Photo: Ben Mrad Bayrem)

Abdelhak Kherbache blanked Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), 7-0, in the 57kg finals and moved into the top-ten of the world rankings. Kherbache, the defending African champion, moved up eight spots from his previous No. 16 ranking that he earned from finishing in 11th at the 2019 World Championships. He now sits two points ahead of Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) in the No. 8 spot.

Ogbonna JOHN (NGR) is ranked seventh in the world at 74kg after winning his African gold on Sunday night. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Ogbonna John handled Ishak BOUKHORS (ALG), 5-1, in the 74kg finals and climbed to seventh in the world rankings. John’s gold on Sunday was worth 20 points, which sandwiched him between No. 6 Mao OKUI (JPN) and former-No.7 Kamil RYBICKI (POL).

The Nigerian now has four African championship gold medals and one African Games title.

Algeria Wins Team Title on Home Soil
Algeria medaled in nine weight classes -- three of which were golds -- and claimed the freestyle team title on home soil. Abdelhak Kherbache, Abdelghani BENATALLAH (ALG) and Mohammed FARDJ (ALG) won gold medals and helped the host nation edge second-place Egypt by three points and third-place Tunisia by 33 points.

RESULTS

Final Freestyle Team Standings
GOLD - Algeria (183 points)
SILVER - Egypt (180 points)
BRONZE - Tunisia (150 points)
Fourth - Nigeria (83 points)
Fifth - South Africa (82 points)

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD - Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) df. Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), 7-0
BRONZE - Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) df. Fathi NASIR (SUD), 6-1
BRONZE - Jakobo Tanki TAU (RSA) df. Soufiane KABIL (MAR), 18-9

61kg
GOLD - Abdelghani BENATALLAH (ALG)
SILVER - Yousef Mohamed Yousef EISSA (EGY)
BRONZE - Chakir ANSARI (MAR)

65kg
GOLD - Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS) df. Amas DANIEL (NGR), 4-2
BRONZE - Fathi ISMAIL (EGY) df. Farouk JELASSI (TUN), via injury default
BRONZE - Amar LAISSAOUI (ALG) df. Adama DIATTA (SEN), 5-2

70kg
GOLD - Haithem DAKHLAOUI (TUN)
SILVER - Ahmed Mohamed Elsayed ELMADBOH (EGY)
BRONZE - Ibrahim MOKHTARI (ALG)

74kg
GOLD - Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR) df. Ishak BOUKHORS (ALG), 5-1
BRONZE - Maher GHANMI (TUN) df. Mohamed CHAKIR (MAR), 10-0
BRONZE - Amr HUSSEN (EGY) df. Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN), 11-0

79kg
GOLD - Ayoub BARRAJ (TUN)
SILVER - Saifeldin ELKOUMY (EGY)
BRONZE - Mohammed BOUDRAA (ALG)

86kg
GOLD - Khaled ELMOATAMADAWI (EGY) df. Roman MANITRA RAHARISON (MAD), 11-0
BRONZE - Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) df. Sabri MNASRIYA (TUN), 9-1
BRONZE - Ekerekeme AGIOMOR (NGR) df. Bedopassa BUASSAT DJONDE (GBS), 2-1

92kg
GOLD - Mohammed FARDJ (ALG)
SILVER - Imed KADDIDI (TUN)
BRONZE - Mohamed ABDALLA (EGY)

97kg
GOLD - Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN) df. Martin ERASMUS (RSA), 9-4
BRONZE - Soso TAMARAU (NGR) df. Hosam MERGHANY (EGY), 9-2
BRONZE - Francisco Nkunga NGONDA (ANG) df. Amoussou Nicolas CAKPO (BEN), 10-0

125kg
GOLD - Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) df. Djahid BERRAHAL (ALG), 10-0
BRONZE - Johannes Jacobus KRIEL (RSA) df. Thiacka FAYE (SEN), via injury default

#IranWrestling

Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles

Friday, June 12, 2026 - 12:33 By Vinay Siwach

DA NANG, Vietnam (June 11) -- When 20-year-old Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) returned to Iran after winning Olympic gold in Greco-Roman 67kg at the Paris Games, he came home with more than just a medal around his neck. He returned with proof that wrestling could change lives.

Raised in poverty in Dezful, Khuzestan Province, Esmaeili's improbable run to Olympic gold transformed him overnight into a national sensation. He was showered with gifts, cash awards and job offers.

The ripples of that triumph are still being felt. Last month, two of Esmaeili's own cousins, Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) and Vahid ASHIRI (IRI), won gold medals at the U17 Asian Championships in Da Nang after taking up wrestling only two years ago, inspired by his Olympic success and the hero's welcome he received back home.

Paris Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI), left, with his cousin Ali who won 48kg gold medal at the U17 Asian Championships.

Ali, whose father is Esmaeili's uncle, competed in Greco-Roman 48kg and won three bouts to capture the gold medal. He outscored his opponents 22-2 including two technical superiority wins.

Another cousin from his mother's side, Ashiri, competed in the Greco-Roman 55kg weight class and was crowned champion after four victories. He defeated wrestlers from India, Jordan, China and Kyrgyzstan with scores of 6-1, 5-2, 11-1, and 3-1 to capture the Asian title.

While they were winning gold medals in Vietnam, Olympic champion Esmaeili was watching from Iran.

"I watched their Asian finals and I always follow their training," Esmaeili told United World Wrestling. "We are from the same club and both are talented."

Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) became the U17 Asian champion at 48kg in Greco-Roman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The two took up wrestling at the age of 14 and quickly rose through the province before making it to the Iran team for the U17 Asian Championships. Ali Esmaeili feels that Saeid's presence motivates him to work harder to achieve medals in wrestling.

"I got into wrestling after watching Saeid's Olympic final. In 2 years, with his help, I managed to become the Asian champion. Every time I see Saeid, I feel really good and I am proud of him."

Though Esmaeili trains at the national camp in Tehran, he does not miss a chance to train the youngsters when he returns home and practices in Dezful.

"I tried to answer every question they asked me about wrestling carefully and I also taught them some of my techniques," he said.

Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) claimed the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ashiri also stepped foot in the club after watching Esmaeili's thrilling Paris campaign. Two years later, he is proud to represent both the Esmaeili family and the club.

"After Saeid won the gold medal, I went to the club where he trains and whenever I had any questions, he explained them to me carefully," Ashiri said. "I am truly proud to be a member of the club and a family with such a personality."

The next stop for both Ali and Ashiri will be the U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan from July 28 to August 2.

"Just like the Asian Championships, I want to repeat the success at the World Championships," Ali said.

RESULTS

48kg
Final: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Javokhir SHARIFBOEV (UZB), 4-2
Semifinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Umarali BERDALIEV (KGZ), 9-0
Quarterfinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Liaotan LAN (CHN), 9-0

55kg
Final: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Syimyk ASKAROV (KGZ), 3-1
Semifinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Zihao ZHANG (CHN), 11-1
Quarterfinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Adam ABU FARE (JOR), 5-2
Qualification: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. HARION (IND), 6-1

Cumba Mbali, Kherbache, John Win African Gold, Ascend into Top-Ten of World Rankings

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Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles