Dr Okou Visits Team Nigeria Wrestling Camp, Advocates Mental Toughness, Team Cohesion
As the Nigeria Wrestling Federation intensifies preparations for the forthcoming World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 24 – November 1, 2026, sports and exercise psychology has taken centre stage in the national team’s build-up to the global spectacle.
Dr Okou, Sports and Exercise Psychologist and a member of the NWF Board, paid an unscheduled visit to Nigerian wrestlers in camp in Yenagoa, where he engaged athletes and coaches on psychological factors that can influence peak performance under pressure.
During the session, Okou highlighted three critical psychological variables — mental toughness, team cohesion, and behavioural regulation — which he described as important predictors of stress management and performance among elite combat sport athletes.
He explained that while physical conditioning and technical training build the athletes’ physical capacity, psychological preparation helps them sustain performance when fatigue, pressure, and expectations begin to mount.
According to him, mental toughness gives athletes the psychological edge to remain focused, resilient, confident, and in control when confronted with stress, adversity, and difficult competitive situations.
Dr Okou who is also an international referee identified four key pillars of mental toughness as control, commitment, challenge and confidence, explaining that control involves managing emotions and remaining composed when trailing on points or competing before a hostile crowd
He said commitment requires athletes to remain focused on their game plan despite fatigue, while challenge involves viewing difficult opponents and high-stakes bouts as opportunities rather than threats and Confidence, he added, is the belief in one’s preparation and ability to execute effectively, particularly during the closing stages of a bout.
“On the mat, everyone is physically strong at this level. What separates gold from bronze is who can handle the stress of the last minute. Mental toughness predicts who stays composed and executes under stress, that is, stress performance, which leads directly to podium performance,” he said.
He urged the wrestlers to make mental skills training part of their daily routine, just as they do physical conditioning, recommending techniques such as visualisation, positive self-talk, controlled breathing, and goal-setting
On team cohesion, Dr. Okou noted that although wrestling is an individual sport during competition, it remains a team sport in the training camp, stressing the importance of unity and collective responsibility among athletes, coaches, and officials.
He expressed particular concern about maintaining cohesion at a time when some of Nigeria’s top wrestlers are training in the United States ahead of the World Championships, describing the situation as an important test of the team’s unity and shared purpose.
The NWF Board member explained that strong team cohesion can help reduce anxiety, improve motivation, and provide athletes with social support. He encouraged the team to develop task cohesion around the shared objective of winning medals for Nigeria while also promoting social cohesion through mutual respect, support, and accountability.
“Wrestling may look individual on the mat, but victory is collective. The athletes and coaching crew must deliberately strengthen the spirit of oneness as preparations for the championship enter a critical phase. When an athlete knows her teammates and coaches believe in her, her stress tolerance doubles. Cohesion predicts podium performance because no athlete wins alone. You win with the energy of the team behind you.” he stressed.
Dr. Okou concluded by charging the athletes and coaches to give psychological conditioning the same attention as physical and technical preparation, noting that a scientifically prepared mind and body are essential for optimal performance, podium success and athletes’ overall well-being.
Meanwhile, the NWF Board member further motivated the athletes by providing incentives to support some of their basic training needs, describing the gesture as part of efforts to boost morale and help the wrestlers remain focused and adequately prepared for the championship.
