Team Nigeria is heading to Liberia for the 16th Africa Scrabble Championship, where the defending champions will seek to retain their continental crown and reaffirm the country’s status as one of Africa’s leading Scrabble nations.

The championship will feature 134 players from 24 countries at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, setting the stage for a keenly contested battle for continental honours.

Nigeria assembled a 25-player contingent for the tournament, drawing on the country’s wealth of Scrabble talent and experience. Kenya leads in numbers with 34 players, while Uganda follows with 30, reflecting the growing competitiveness and investment in the game across the continent.

Nigeria has established a formidable reputation in African Scrabble, winning multiple team and individual titles over the years and producing players who have excelled at both continental and global levels. That record places the defending champions among the favourites, even as rival nations intensify their efforts to challenge their dominance.

The 16th edition is expected to deliver stiff competition, with Kenya, Uganda and other participating countries eager to make their mark. Improved preparation, wider participation and growing grassroots development across Africa have raised expectations for a closely fought championship.

Beyond the contest for medals and individual honours, the championship provides a platform to promote Scrabble, strengthen sporting ties among African nations and celebrate intellectual excellence. The game combines vocabulary, strategy, numerical proficiency and mental discipline, making it a unique test of skill and concentration.

For Team Nigeria, the objective is clear: defend the title, sustain the country’s proud tradition and demonstrate once again the depth of Nigerian talent. The team will rely on its experience, competitive pedigree and collective strength as it takes on the continent’s best players.

With the competition set to bring together some of Africa’s finest Scrabble players, all eyes will be on the Nigerian contingent as it begins its campaign in Liberia, aiming to return home with the championship crown intact.