Nigeria poised to end medal drought at African Fencing Championships

As Nigeria prepares to host the 23rd African Fencing Championships from
June 25 to 29 at Charterhouse Lagos, the Nigeria Fencing Federation is
confident that the nation is ready to end its long-standing medal
drought at the continental event.

With a promising lineup of athletes, the Federation believes this year’s
tournament could mark a turning point for Nigerian fencing. According to
Federation President Adeyinka Samuel, the sport is experiencing a
resurgence, driven by a new generation of talented fencers who have gained valuable experience at international competitions.

“On a personal note, as a former athlete, I vividly remember competing
at the Senior African Championships in Morocco in 2008, where I narrowly
missed a medal,” Samuel said.
“To now host this very event as President is the culmination of years of sacrifice, dedication, and a shared
vision for Nigerian fencing. This is a gift to our entire fencing community
and a legacy moment for our young, aspiring athletes.”

While Nigeria has yet to secure a medal at the African Fencing
Championships, Samuel expressed strong optimism about the team’s
prospects this year.

“Our athletes are more prepared than ever before. We’ve invested heavily
in coach development, international exposure, and high-performance
training camps. With the support of the home crowd, our fencers are
mentally and physically ready to make history,” he added.

Team Nigeria has brought in an international coach from Italy, held
joint training camps with other African nations, and provided targeted
support in areas such as nutrition, conditioning, and mental
preparation. Samuel emphasized that the goal extends beyond winning
medals; it’s about inspiring the next generation of Nigerian fencers.

He specifically predicted that Nigeria is on track to win at least two
medals, despite the strong competition expected from across the
continent.

Among the athletes to watch is U.S.-based Peluola Akinbamiro, who will be competing in her first tournament on home soil. The 13 year old, who participated in the 2025 African and World Junior Championships in Angola and China, expressed confidence in the team’s preparation under the guidance of the Italian coach.

“I’m excited to finally compete in Nigeria. We’ve trained hard, and I
believe we’re ready to break the medal drought,” Akinbamiro said.

Homegrown talent Wisdom Okanlawon also shared his enthusiasm: “It won’t be easy facing some of the best fencers in Africa and the world, but I’m hopeful This is my first senior tournament, and I believe we can make our Presence happy”

Over 200 fencers from more than 26 African countries are expected to
compete in 12 events during the five-day tournament. This marks the
third time the African Fencing Championships will be hosted in a
Sub-Saharan country, following previous editions in Mali (2019) and
Senegal (2003 and 2009).