Nigeria Targets First-Ever Medals As It Hosts 2025 African Fencing Championships in Lagos

Nigeria is setting its sights on a historic medal breakthrough at the African Fencing Championships as the country gets ready to host the 2025 edition of the continental event later this month in Lagos.

The 23rd African Fencing Championships will be held from June 25 to 29 at Charterhouse Lagos, and the Nigeria Fencing Federation is optimistic that Team Nigeria will finally end its long-standing medal drought at the competition.

With an emerging lineup of talented athletes and intensified preparations, officials believe that this home-ground tournament could be a pivotal moment for fencing in Nigeria.

Ahead of the event, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, spoke on the progress being made in the sport, highlighting the evolution taking place under the guidance of a younger generation of athletes.

“On a personal note, as a former athlete, I vividly recall narrowly missing out on a medal at the 2008 Senior African Championships in Morocco,” Samuel said.
“To now host this very event as President is the culmination of years of sacrifice, dedication, and a shared vision for Nigerian fencing. This is not just a milestone for the Federation, it is a legacy moment for our entire fencing community and an inspiration to aspiring athletes nationwide.”

Despite never having clinched a medal at the African Fencing Championships, Samuel believes this year could mark a turning point.

“Our athletes are better prepared than ever. We have invested significantly in coach development, international training camps, and high-performance support in areas such as nutrition and mental conditioning. With the backing of the home crowd, our fencers are mentally and physically ready to make history,” he stated.

The Federation’s recent investments include hiring an international coach from Italy, hosting joint training camps with other African nations, and adopting a more holistic approach to athlete development.

One of the top names to watch is 13-year-old US-based Peluola Akinbamiro, who will be making her first competitive appearance on Nigerian soil.

Having previously represented Nigeria at the 2025 African and World Junior Championships in Angola and China, Akinbamiro shared her excitement:

“I’m excited to finally compete in Nigeria. We’ve trained hard, and I believe we’re ready to break the medal drought,” she said.

Local athlete Wisdom Okanlawon, also expressed optimism ahead of his senior debut:

“It won’t be easy facing some of the best fencers in Africa and beyond, but I’m ready. This is my first senior tournament, and I believe we can make our presence felt.”

The five-day event is expected to host over 200 fencers from more than 26 African countries, competing across 12 events. This will be only the third time the African Fencing Championships are being held in a Sub-Saharan African country—after Mali in 2019 and Senegal in 2003 and 2009.