The Nigeria Fencing Federation has praised its young athletes for their performance at the 2025 World Junior Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China, despite not winning a medal. Federation president Adeyinka Samuel commended the athletes’ discipline and composure, highlighting the importance of participating in high-level tournaments for the country’s fencing development.
“I must commend the athletes for their conduct and display during the championships,” Samuel said. “This again showed us that we have the potential to compete against the rest of the world.” The six-man squad, featuring Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer Inkosi Brou, demonstrated maturity and composure on the field, gaining valuable experience.
Samuel emphasized the significance of participating in international tournaments, stating, “They were no pushovers as they showed maturity and composure on the field of play. This experience has added to their growth, and they now know they are being watched worldwide.” The federation is optimistic that this experience will benefit the athletes in future competitions.
The team had some notable performances, with 17-year-old Brou managing a 15-12 victory over Bulgaria’s Nikola Gospodinov before narrowly losing 15-13 to Hungary’s Sultan Stanbek in the second round. In the team event, Wisdom Okanlawon stood out in Nigeria’s first-round loss to New Zealand, drawing praise from Pat Aiyenuro, President of British Fencing, who identified the 17-year-old as a promising talent.
The Nigeria Fencing Federation views this experience as a crucial step in developing its athletes and preparing them for future competitions, including the African Championships in June. Samuel expressed satisfaction with the team’s participation, saying, “I am so happy that we took part in the tournament, and this is a good warm-up for our fencers going into the African Championships.”
The federation’s investment in its young athletes is evident, and with continued support, Nigerian fencing can expect to see promising results in the future. As the athletes return home, they will focus on building on their experience and preparing for upcoming tournaments.