By Tayo Ogunseye
As the countdown to the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia picks up momentum, the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) President Adekoyejo Adegbesan has picked Uganda and Kenya as the strongest opposition to Nigeria’s dominance at the biennial tournament.
Countries will converge on the Liberian capital from October 22-25 for another chance to exert their influence and position on the continent for honour and prestige.
However, observers maintained that Nigeria, being the defending champion, has the strongest prospect of retaining their title after recording 14 wins from the past 15 editions.
South Africa remained the only country to punctuate Nigeria’s run in the history of the championship.
Oluwatimilehin Doko sustained the country’s show after he claimed the individual event title at the 2024 edition held in Kigali, Rwanda.
Adegbesan while speaking on the heels of the Lekki Scrabble Classics which many regarded as a preparatory platform to the continent’s premier tournament, said the Green Locusts are strongly positioned to win their 15th title but warned that the Nigerians should expect resistance from Eastern countries like Uganda and Kenya whose Mind gamers are capable of turning the tide against the West-Africans.
“I think Nigeria can still retain it, Nigeria has won 14 of the last 15 editions of the Africa Scrabble Championship. From what I see here today even though we’ve lost a lot of Nigeria’s top players who relocated outside the country, I think we still have enough to win the championship but, I think Uganda are good as well. Kenya will also compete but I think Nigeria still has enough to nick it and win their 15th title.”
He confirmed Liberia’s readiness to host the rest of Africa as he believed the country is set to organise the best of tournaments in Africa.
“Liberia is ready” he declared. “The good thing is that the Ministry of Sports is involved. They actually redesigned the competition banner. They are actually putting a lot of support for the National Scrabble Association of Liberia. They are ready to host and I believe we will have the best of tournaments there” he said.
