Nigeria’s Scrabble Champions Deserve More Love And Support – Coach Ikolo

Nigeria’s remarkable rise as a global powerhouse in Scrabble has been built on the dedication of its players, the commitment of its technical team and the sacrifices of individuals who have spent years developing champions.

National team coach Anthony Ikolo, says, the country must do more to appreciate and support a team that continues to bring honour and glory to the nation.

Ikolo, who has devoted the last 12 years to guiding Nigerian Scrabble players to continental and international success, has praised Team Nigeria’s outstanding performance at the 16th African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia, describing the latest triumph as another testament to the country’s growing dominance of the game.

Nigeria once again stamped its authority on the continental stage, with Abdulmumin Jimoh emerging as individual champion after an impressive campaign of 23 victories from 32 games, finishing with a tournament-high spread of +1,760.

George Ezinore also secured second place with 23 wins and a spread of +1,005, while Nigeria claimed the Best Country award ahead of Kenya and hosts Liberia.

The Monrovia success for Ikolo was not an isolated achievement but part of a bigger story of sustained excellence by a generation of Nigerian players who have consistently demonstrated their superiority in both senior and junior competitions.

He pointed to the achievements of Enoch Nwali, who reigned supreme in Lusaka, Zambia, Oluwatimilehin Doko, who conquered Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, and Abdulmumin Jimoh, whose impressive display in Monrovia further underlined Nigeria’s strength on the continent.

The coach also highlighted the extraordinary achievements of the country’s emerging talents, particularly 16-year-old Sophia Ekeruche, who has continued to rule the world in the junior female category for two consecutive years.

According to Ikolo, the achievements of these young players demonstrate that Nigeria is not merely producing champions for today but building a generation capable of sustaining the country’s dominance for years to come.

“Our players have continued to show that Nigeria is a force to reckon with in Scrabble, not just in Africa but across the world. What we are witnessing is the product of years of hard work, discipline, commitment and deliberate efforts to develop these athletes,” Ikolo said.

“Look at what Enoch Nwali achieved in Lusaka, what Oluwatimilehin Doko did in Kigali and now Abdulmumin Jimoh in Monrovia. These are different players, different atmosphere and different moments, but the message remains the same: Nigeria is producing champions consistently.”

He described Sophia Ekeruche’s achievements as particularly encouraging, noting that her continued success at just 16 years of age represents the immense potential within Nigerian Scrabble.

“Imagine a 16-year-old girl dominating the world in her category for two years running. That tells you the kind of talent we have in this country. These young players are not just competing; they are setting standards and giving Nigeria a strong identity in international Scrabble.” The Delta State born coach stated.

Ikolo also reserved special praise for the players and the technical crew, acknowledging the sacrifices, preparation and teamwork required to achieve success at the highest level.

He equally commended the National Sports Commission (NSC), under the leadership of Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, for what he described as a positive commitment to supporting Nigerian athletes and changing the narrative around sports development and rewards.

“The players deserve every commendation. They are the ones who sit at the board and fight for every point. The technical crew also deserves recognition for the planning, preparation and work that go into these performances.

“I must also appreciate the National Sports Commission, led by Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade. Their efforts and support for Nigerian sports have been encouraging. We need an environment where athletes are motivated, recognised and given the necessary backing to continue winning for the country.”

However, beyond celebrating another successful outing, the experienced coach believes Nigerian Scrabble deserves greater public attention, recognition and investment.

He appealed to Nigerians, corporate organisations, sports stakeholders and government institutions to embrace the sport and support the players who continue to fly the country’s flag with distinction.

“My appeal to Nigerians is simple: please show this team some love. Show Scrabble some love. These players are making enormous sacrifices and bringing trophies, medals and international recognition to our country.

“Sometimes, we celebrate success in football and other popular sports, but we must also recognise those who are making Nigeria proud in other sporting disciplines. Scrabble is one of those sports where Nigeria is not just participating; we are dominating and setting the pace.

“These athletes deserve encouragement, better opportunities, sponsorship and recognition. They need to know that the country appreciates what they are doing. We cannot continue to celebrate their victories without making the necessary investment in their future.”

A man who has spent the last 12 years helping to nurture and guide Nigerian Scrabble talents to continental and global glory, Ikolo believes the journey is far from over.

With a youthful generation already conquering Africa and challenging the world’s best, Nigeria’s Scrabble success story appears to have entered another exciting chapter.

But as the trophies continue to arrive, his message remains vivid and lucid, the champions need more than applause after victory; they deserve the love, support and investment that will keep Nigeria at the summit of world Scrabble as well as motivate them to do more.