The Nigeria Fencing Federation (NFF) has unveiled a 12-member squad set to represent the country at the 23rd African Fencing Championships, scheduled to take place at Charterhouse, Lagos from June 25 to 29, 2025.
Headlining the team is Inkosi Brou, a U.S.-based teenage sensation and the first Nigerian fencer to win a medal at an international event. The 17-year-old, who recently clinched bronze at the 2025 African Junior Championships in Angola, brings vital international experience and Olympic aspirations to the team. Brou has been actively competing across global circuits this year as he eyes qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Joining him on the men’s team are Oluwafolayemi Akinyosoye, based in the UK, and a strong lineup of home-based fencers including Wisdom Okanlawon, brothers Mahatir and Mahadi Idongesit, Olumuyiwa Ige, Oritsematosan Egbesemirone, Alex Chizim Aninyei, and Babade Adegbola.
The women’s squad is headlined by Peluola Akinbamiro, who will be competing for Nigeria on home soil for the first time. She is joined by promising fencers Somto Eribenne, Sara Idongesit, and Adebodunrin Thomas.
Team Nigeria will participate in both individual and team events across the three fencing disciplines: foil, epee, and sabre.
National coach Ibrahim Alogba expressed optimism about the squad’s chances, highlighting their youthfulness and fearless mentality.
“Our team is the youngest in terms of age and experience, which takes a lot of pressure off their shoulders,” Alogba said. “This could actually work to our advantage. We may be young, but we are not intimidated by records or reputations. We’re ready to break Nigeria’s medal drought at this championship.”
Italian coach Riccardo Bardin, who arrived in Nigeria a week ago to help fine-tune preparations, also praised the athletes’ raw talent and commitment, while encouraging patience as the team continues to develop.
This year’s championship marks only the third time the African Fencing Championships will be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa, following past editions in Senegal (2002) and Mali (2009 and 2019).
Aside from host nation Nigeria, participating countries include Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Senegal, Mauritius, Angola, Rwanda, Niger, South Africa, Guinea, Libya, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde.
The five-day competition will feature 12 events—six individual and six team contests—across the foil, epee, and sabre categories, and is expected to play a crucial role in the continent’s build-up to the 2028 Olympic Games.
