The Senegalese national wrestling team Saturday emerged winners of the first ever four-nation Wrestling Championship organised by ECOWAS in collaboration with the Gambia Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Gambia Wrestling Association. The two-day event was held at the Serekunda West Mini - Stadium.

Senegal secured three victories in the group stages of the competition against Gambia, who finished fourth behind Nigeria in second and Guinea Bissau in third. The best wrestler of the Championship prize named after the late Executive Secretary of the National Sports Council, Mamudou Max Jallow, went to Senegalese Moussa Faye, who also received a cash prize of 150 euros.

Senegal as winners were awarded a trophy and a cash prize of 1510 euros (one thousand, five hundred and ten) while second place Nigeria received 1,130 euros (one thousand, one hundred and thirty), third place Guinea Bissau receiving 750 euros (seven hundred and fifty) while 560 euros (five hundred and sixty) went to The Gambia.

Speaking in an interview with Observer Sports shortly after being declared winners of the championship, Amburass Sarr, the coach of the Senegalese Wrestling team, said his side has participated and won all four of the different competitions organised by ECOWAS since May. They participated at major championships organised in Chad, Niger, Senegal and now The Gambia.

Sarr, himself a veteran of Senegalese wrestling, dedicated his country's triumph to the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, whom he described as a true lover of traditional wrestling.

Femi Akinsanya, the Nigerian coach, said his country came third in the just concluded ECOWAS wrestling Championship held in Dakar , adding that securing second in The Gambia shows a sign of improvement.

The president of the Senegalese Wrestling Federation, Dr Aliou Sarr, thanked The Gambia for the warm hospitality accorded to him and the entire delegation while also praising the country for the good organisation.

Speaking earlier while officially presiding over the opening of the championship, the minister of Youth and Sports, Alieu Jammeh, told the gathering that President Jammeh is a true lover of traditional wrestling and has always supported the promotion of the sport in the country. He added that wrestling is part of our culture and because of this the Gambian leader has continued to contribute towards its development.

He assured ECOWAS that Gambia will always give traditional wrestling the due attention it deserves. Minister Jammeh thanked all the participating countries for their participation, and also assured that The Gambia will continue to host such events in the country.

Dr Francis Chucks Njoaguani, director of ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre, thanked The Gambia for the successful hosting of the event.

Alhaji Muhammed Abdoulie, president of the Association of West African Wrestling Federation, said the aim of the association is to bring the youths together to promote the culture of wrestling in the African region and the integration and cooperation in Africa. He added that they want to make traditional wrestling to become professional and also serve as an employment for the youths.

The event was also graced by the minister for Presidential Affairs, Secretary General and head of the Civil Service, Hon. Momodou Sabally; minister of the Interior, Ousman Sonko; minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye; minister for Energy, Teneba Jaiteh; and the minister for Fisheries and Water Resources, Mass AXi Gye.