African Games: Ghana overpowers Egypt, Nigeria, wins impressive 40 medals in arm wrestling

• Ghana's ascent in the 2023 African Games continued unabated
• The host nation won an impressive 40 medals in arm wrestling
• The West African country would hope for more in other disciplines

Team Ghana made a massive statement in arm wrestling, securing an astonishing 40 medals in the ongoing 2023 African Games in Accra.

Having struggled to keep up with the early pacesetters in Egypt, who have crossed 100 medals so far, and West African rivals Nigeria, Ghana finally managed to show up when it matters in a discipline fast becoming the country's forte.

Ghana shines bright in arm wrestling

The 13th edition of the African Games debuted arm wrestling as a discipline in the multisport event. The host nation took full advantage by scooping a chunk of the medals, much to the delight of the fans at the Cedi Conference Centre at the University of Ghana.

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Athletics

In the two-day event, Ghana won 21 medals on day one of the event, bagging four gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals before topping up their count in the same event on Saturday, March 16, with four more gold, nine silver and six bronze medals taking the total tally to 40.

Ghana's overall performance at the African Games

While beginning their medal pursuit on a slower note after heartbreaking exits in table tennis and a dismal showing in cycling, wrestling, badminton and a host of others, it is fair to say that the competition hosts have finally hit their stride.

Winnifred Ntumi broke the medal drought as she single-handedly clinched the country's first three medals (1 gold and two silver) in weightlifting.

Abeiku Jackson also won Ghana's maiden medal in the 50m butterfly swimming event, the first for the West African country in the competition's 65-year history.

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Football

Fast forward, arm wrestling has catapulted the country's total medal count as they seek to improve on the standings, with Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Algeria setting the pace.

What's next for Team Ghana?

With the Black Satellites and Black Princesses (Ghana's U20 male and female teams) into the semi-finals of the football tournament, they would be optimistic of adding to the growing list of medal counts and athletics being one of the country's sure bankers for medals.

Ghana’s Jackson earns bronze despite winning race

Sports Brief recently explained why Ghanaian swimmer Abeiku Jackson only earned a bronze medal despite winning the men's 100m butterfly.

The Ghanaian swimming captain won the race, clocking a time of 53.80 seconds, but wasn’t quick enough to be Egypt's Nasr Abdalla and Eaton Jarden.