Fencers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia dominated the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup, claiming top honors at the two-day event hosted by Nigeria from December 14 to 15.
The tournament, held at the prestigious Charterhouse Lagos, marked a historic moment as Nigeria became the first Sub-Saharan African nation to host a Fencing World Cup. Eight countries competed, with 39 fencers battling for medals and world rankings.
Egypt clinched the team event gold by defeating Greece in the final, while Saudi Arabia secured the bronze medal. Nigeria, despite a challenging preliminary group that included Egypt, finished seventh in the team rankings.
In the singles event, Egypt’s Shamel Youssef emerged victorious, overcoming Saudi Arabia’s Abed Hassan to claim the gold medal. Egyptian fencers Elsayed Mahmoud and Osama Eslam shared the bronze medals.
Among Nigerian fencers, Ige Olumuyiwa ranked highest at No. 27, exiting in the round of 32 after a close contest with Greece’s Theodoropoulos Panagiotis. Fashola Oluwashemilore, who faced eventual champion Shamel Youssef, finished 31st, while former African cadet and national junior champion, Wisdom Okanlawon, ranked 32nd.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, praised the event as a milestone for the country despite financial hurdles. “We are grateful to have hosted such a prestigious tournament. It has been challenging, especially in terms of funding,” Samuel noted. “Nigerian fencers gave their best, and we aim to host more competitions to strengthen our capacity. Partnerships with Italian and British fencing are in progress, which will prepare us to host larger events and promote fencing across Nigeria.”
The event showcased Nigeria’s potential as a hub for international fencing, inspiring efforts to grow the sport on the continent.
