Okanlawon leads Team Nigeria as NFF unveils squad

Former African cadet and national junior champion, Wisdom Okanlawon, is top of the country’s seven-man squad announced by the Nigeria Fencing Federation (NFF) for the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup, scheduled to hold on December 14 and 15at Charterhouse Lagos.

The 17-year-old Okanlawon brings valuable experience from the 2022 African Championships, where he excelled for Nigeria. Joining him is 15-year-old Kiibaati Opasanya, the national school vice-champion, who will make his international debut at this tournament.

In the squad also are Oluwashemilore Fashola (17), Mustapha Fuad (16), Olumuyiwa Ige (17), Bade Martins (17), and Ramadan Sumon (15).

According to the NFF, the team will be led by Coach Ibrahim Alogba, who has expressed optimism about the athletes’ potential.

Looking forward to a successful outing, a delighted Fashola, who is participating in his first international tournament, said, “I can’t wait to compete against the best in the world. This is an opportunity for us to improve our world ranking and perform well. I must thank the federation for allowing me to compete in this event, and I am looking forward to the tournament.”

Meanwhile, some participating athletes and teams started arriving in Lagos yesterday ahead of Saturday’s kick-off of the championship.

The Commonwealth Fencing Federation (CFF), led by its Technical Committee Chairman, Peter Smith, is in Lagos to monitor the success of the two-day tournament, as part of the prerequisites to award the 2026 Commonwealth Championships to Nigeria.

Referees from South Africa and Senegal have also arrived in Lagos in readiness for the first Fencing World Cup in Sub-Saharan Africa.

An official of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), Zied Feriani, who is the President of the FIE Rules Commission, has also touched down in Lagos to supervise the tournament.