Osun State-born taekwondo sensation Aderibigbe Faridah has emerged as one of Nigeria’s brightest stars at the 2026 African Taekwondo Championships in Bamako, Mali, delivering a double-medal performance that has significantly strengthened Team Nigeria’s quest for continental glory. Competing against some of Africa’s finest athletes at the Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga, Faridah displayed exceptional technical brilliance and composure to claim gold in the Female Under-30 Freestyle Poomsae event and silver in the Pair Poomsae category.
Faridah’s double-medal triumph comes on the heels of her brilliant performance at the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) National Open Trials held recently at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State. After winning gold on the domestic stage, she was selected by the NTF as part of a highly competitive, multifaceted national squad designed to showcase Nigeria’s growing dominance in technical poomsae events.
As detailed in her official athlete profile, Faridah is a remarkably versatile competitor registered across multiple taxing disciplines:
- Kyorugi (-53kg division)
- Creative/Freestyle Poomsae (Under 30)
- Pair Poomsae (Under 30)
Her transition from a domestic champion to an African gold medalist underscores her rapid development following her early breakthrough at the 2022 National Sports Festival, where she initially put Osun State on the national taekwondo radar by winning a bronze medal.
Faridah’s masterful execution has catalyzed a broader podium sweep for Team Nigeria. At the World Taekwondo-sanctioned G-4 rated continental showpiece, Nigeria’s collective medal haul has surged to seven medals.
Team Nigeria’s 2026 African Championship Medal Count:
3 Gold Medals (including Aderibigbe Faridah’s Under-30 Freestyle Poomsae)
1 Silver Medal (Pair Poomsae)
3 Bronze Medals
The G-4 ranking of this tournament makes Faridah’s victory exceptionally lucrative, providing substantial world ranking points that alter the landscape for Nigerian taekwondo on the global stage.
The integration of Poomsae and Para-taekwondo athletes into the national contingent marks a deliberate, successful gamble by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation. NTF President Tayo Popoola recently noted that the selection of fresh discoveries like Faridah is part of a strategic roadmap aimed squarely at long-term international milestones, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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