Apart from showcasing the country’s capacity to host international championships, the President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation (NFF), Adeyinka Samuel, believes that hosting the forthcoming African Senior Fencing Championships will open more opportunities for Nigerian athletes to showcase their skills and win medals at the highest level in the continent as well as offer the points they need to stake their claims to Olympic tickets.
  
Nigeria will host the 23rd African Fencing Championships at Charterhouse Lagos from June 25 to 29 and the NFF is confident that the competition will provide the nation an opportunity to end its long-standing medal drought at the continental event.
 
With a promising lineup of athletes, the Federation believes this year’s tournament could mark a turning point for Nigerian fencing.
 
Samuel, at the weekend, said that the sport is experiencing a resurgence, driven by a new generation of talented fencers, who have gained valuable experience at international competitions.
 
“On a personal note, as a former athlete, I vividly remember competing at the Senior African Championships in Morocco in 2008, where I narrowly missed a medal,” 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 a gift to our entire fencing community and a legacy moment for our young, aspiring athletes.”

Explaining his conviction that Nigeria will excel at the championships, Samuel said: “Our athletes are more prepared than ever before. We have invested heavily in coach development, international exposure, and high-performance training camps. With the support of the home crowd, our fencers are mentally and physically ready to make history,” he added.
 
As part of their preparation for the championships, Samuel said that Team Nigeria brought in an international coach from Italy, held joint training camps with other African nations, and provided targeted support in areas such as nutrition, conditioning, and mental preparation.
 
He emphasised that the goal extends beyond winning medals, saying that it is about inspiring the next generation of Nigerian fencers.
 
He specifically predicted that Nigeria is on track to win at least two medals, despite the strong competition expected from across the continent.
 
Among the athletes to watch is U.S.-based Peluola Akinbamiro, who will be competing in her first tournament on home soil.
 
The 13-year-old, who participated in the 2025 African and World Junior Championships in Angola and China, expressed confidence in the team’s preparation under the guidance of the Italian coach.
 
“I’m excited to finally compete in Nigeria. We’ve trained hard, and I believe we’re ready to break the medal drought,” Akinbamiro said.
 
Homegrown talent, Wisdom Okanlawon, also shared his enthusiasm: “It won’t be easy facing some of the best fencers in Africa and the world, but I am hopeful. This is my first senior tournament, and I believe we can make our presence felt.”
 
Over 200 fencers from more than 26 African countries are expected to compete in 12 events at the five-day tournament.