The battle for continental fencing supremacy kicked off in style at the 2025 African Fencing Championships in Lagos on Wednesday, with Egypt claiming the tournament’s first gold medal to reaffirm their status as a powerhouse in African fencing.
The 23rd edition of the championship, hosted at Charterhouse Lagos, features 150 fencers from 18 African nations competing over five days in a variety of events.
Day one opened with the men’s individual epee and women’s individual foil categories, with contests decided by the first to five hits in three minutes.
Nigerian athletes made a spirited start on home soil, with Adegbola Babade, Wisdom Okanlawon, and the Idongesit brothers — Mahadi and Mahathir — advancing from their preliminary pools before exiting in the knockout stages of the men’s epee.
Mahathir Idongesit, who lost narrowly to reigning world junior champion Mahmoud El-Sayed in the round of 32, remained optimistic despite the early exit.
“I’m thrilled to have fenced against one of the best in the world. It was a close contest, and I enjoyed every moment,” he said. “This experience has boosted my confidence and will stay with me for a long time.”
US-based Nigerian fencer Peluola Akinbamiro also showed promise in the women’s foil event, competing in front of a home crowd for the first time.
The championship was officially opened by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu. In his address, Fatodu praised the Nigerian Fencing Federation and the International Fencing Federation for promoting the sport in Nigeria and Africa at large.
“This championship opens the door to vital conversations about how fencing can serve as a powerful tool for broader social good,” Fatodu said. “With a strategic partnership with UNICEF, fencing could contribute meaningfully to youth empowerment, child protection, and poverty alleviation, while also creating economic opportunities for athletes.”
He added that fencing has the potential to evolve from its European aristocratic roots into a sport with deep African relevance, especially if introduced into public schools nationwide.
As the championship progresses, day two will feature more high-stakes contests in the men’s individual sabre and women’s individual epee categories, with athletes aiming to add their names to the growing list of continental champions.
