Nairobi, Kenya-Norwegian legend Erlend Fagerli won his 10th world champion title after beating French rising star Tristan Gac in the male category finals in the Freestyle Football Championships held in Nairobi.
Speaking after being crowned 2023’s male champion in Freestyle Football, Fagerli said, “I’m just… so happy”. It’s very special to win such a tournament right before retiring from the professional circuit. I wasn’t sure I was going to win at all – the level this year was incredibly high. It’s amazing how the sport has evolved since I started!”
This was the first ever World Freestyle Football Championships to be held in the African continent and was Fagerli’s last official competition.
An enthusiastic crowd at the Bomas of Kenya was also treated to an extraordinary feat of Polish superstar Aguska Mnich, who beat Dutch powerhouse Jasmijn Janssen in the female final and secured her sixth world championship.
“I’ve been working so hard for this… I almost can’t believe it happened”, said Aguska Mnich, the new female world champion. “It’s truly a dream to be here and be the world champion again. I had many difficulties on the way here, but thanks to my trust in God, I’ve finally made it. I know it wasn’t me – it’s all thanks to Him”.
The 2023 edition of the World Freestyle Football Championship was the first world final to take place under the new competitive structure of the Pulse Series, with qualification events happening across all continents around the globe. The event was also for the first time broadcast on the TikTok channel of Italian football giants Juventus, where it achieved massive success.
Edward Murimi, WFFA official from Kenya, commended the local athletes for their exceptional efforts, stating, “While the Kenyan athletes may not have secured the titles this time, their dedication, support and passion showcased for the sport are commendable. The exposure and experience gained from the championship will undoubtedly inspire more individuals in Kenya to explore freestyle football. We encourage everyone to embrace the sport and its vibrant community.”
The 2023 edition of the World Freestyle Football Championship was organised by the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA) together with the Kenyan agency Homeboyz.
About the WFFA World Freestyle Football Championship
Organised in various formats since 2008, the official World Freestyle Football Championship is the prime tournament in the sport, open to male and female freestylers from every single country on the planet.
Held in a different city every year, the Finals of the World Championship are doubtlessly the most thrilling and competitive events of the circuit – a magic stage in which the most talented athletes show off their skills against their peers from other countries, continents, and cultures.
The WFFA Pulse Series is a succession of highly competitive tournaments that act as regional qualifiers and serve to identify who makes it to the Finals of the World Freestyle Football Championship.
Each of the five regions into which the WFFA has divided the world (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific) has a specific number of dedicated slots in the World Championship: this ensures that every region is represented in the most competitive event of the Freestyle Football circuit. Besides that, and thanks to Pulse Online, there is also an extra spot for freestylers who live in remote countries or were injured at the time of their closest Pulse Event.
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