Cash-strapped Nigerian team may miss 2019 World Scrabble Championship 

The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has called on corporate organisations, state governments, relevant government agencies and philanthropists to help the country’s team to attend the World English Players Association Scrabble Championship (WESPAC) billed for Goa, India from October 15 to 19, 2019.

According to the federation, champions, Team Nigeria could miss the opportunity to defend the title they won in 2015 if urgent steps were not taken to settle some of their financial obligations.

The NSF appealed that scrabble, which has put Nigeria in the world map, needs support to retain the trophy in India.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, national team coach, Prince Tony Ikolo said the players were poised to make Nigeria proud again if enough funds were provided to aid the activities of the team.

“The Nigeria Scrabble Federation is calling on relevant agencies to please come to the aid of the team preparing for the World English Championship because as defending champions, we cannot afford to miss the event.

“Nigeria is currently ranked higher than America, Britain and others in scrabble. We are the number one team in the world and that is why the federation is calling on well meaning Nigerians and anybody that loves scrabble to come to our rescue. We need enough funds to succeed in India,” he said.