Nigeria Names 12-Man Squad for 23rd African Fencing Championships in Lagos
By Ugochim Uzoije
The Nigeria Fencing Federation has announced a 12-member squad set to represent the country at the 23rd African Fencing Championships, taking place from June 25 to 29 at Charterhouse, Lagos.
This year’s edition of the championship is notable as it marks only the third time the event will be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa—following previous editions held in Senegal (2002) and Mali (2009 and 2019).
Leading Nigeria’s delegation is Inkosi Brou, a U.S.-based athlete who holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first international fencing medallist. Brou, aged 17, recently captured a bronze medal at the 2025 African Junior Championships in Angola, providing crucial international experience for the team.
Brou has also competed in multiple global tournaments in 2025, as part of his effort to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Notably, he is the grandson of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, the former Director-General of NAFDAC.
Joining him on the squad is UK-based Oluwafolayemi Akinyosoye, alongside homegrown talents Wisdom Okanlawon and the fencing siblings Mahatir and Mahadi Idongesit.
The other male team members include Olumuyiwa Ige, Oritsematosan Egbesemirone, Alex Chizim Aninyei, and Babade Adegbola.
On the women’s side, the squad is composed of Peluola Akinbamiro, Somto Eribenne, Sara Idongesit, and Adebodunrin Thomas.
Team Nigeria is set to compete in both individual and team events across the three fencing disciplines: foil, epee, and sabre.
National coach Ibrahim Alogba expressed confidence in the young team’s ability to perform on the continental stage. “Our team is young in age and experience, which lowers pressure. We may surprise stronger teams,” he said. “We are not afraid of reputations or records. This generation is ready to end Nigeria’s medal drought.”
Newly appointed Italian coach Riccardo Bardin, who joined the squad a week ago, praised the athletes for their spirit and effort but advised patience in achieving top results.
In addition to host nation Nigeria, other countries expected to compete include Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Senegal, Mauritius, Angola, Rwanda, Niger, South Africa, Guinea, Libya, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the tournament will feature 12 events—comprising six individual and six team contests across the three fencing weapons.
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