British fencer Folayemi Akinyosoye has officially pledged his allegiance to Nigeria, choosing to represent the country over Great Britain, where he has been a prominent figure in junior fencing for the past six years.
Akinyosoye’s decision comes as fencing gains traction in Nigeria, and his request for a transfer was approved by British Fencing, which waived the usual three-year non-compete period.
In a letter dated August 1, 2024, British Fencing CEO Georgina Usher confirmed the approval, stating, “On behalf of British Fencing, I write to confirm that British Fencing has no objection to the athlete (Folayemi Akinyosoye) changing their FIE nationality and that we waive any non-compete period.”
The 20-year-old fencer expressed his excitement about the switch and is particularly motivated by Nigeria’s potential to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“I want to represent Nigeria because of my personal connection to the country, where my family roots are. I also want to contribute to the growth of fencing in Nigeria, which is still in its early stages. I hope that by representing Nigeria, I can promote Sabre Fencing and inspire more young Nigerians to take an interest in the sport,” Akinyosoye shared via Nigeria Fencing Media.
He added, “I am thrilled to represent Nigeria and can’t wait to collaborate with the Nigerian fencing federation to take my fencing to the next level.”
Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, welcomed Akinyosoye’s decision, highlighting its significance for the sport’s growth in the country.
“We are thrilled that our efforts over the past few years are paying off with Akinyosoye’s decision to fence for Nigeria. This demonstrates that we are on the right track to improving the sport, and we look forward to building a strong team to compete for a spot at the 2028 Olympic Games. We can’t wait to see him represent Nigeria in international competitions and join the rest of the team,” Samuel said.
