Twelve Nigerian fencers began camping on Thursday ahead of the 2025 African Fencing Championships, which will be hosted in Lagos from June 25 to 29.
Nigeria’s 12-member team for the tournament are training at the Lagos Fencing Club in Lekki under the guidance of an Italian coach, Riccardo Bardine.
Bardine’s appointment forms part of a strategic four-year partnership between the Nigerian Fencing Federation and the Italian Fencing Federation, aimed at accelerating the sport’s development in Nigeria through technical support and knowledge exchange.
Nigeria’s team for the tournament is headlined by Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer, Inkosi Brou, U.S.-based rising star Peluola Akinbamiro, and homegrown talent Wisdom Okanlawon.
According to the Nigeria Fencing Federation, 26 African countries have confirmed their participation, bringing with them over 200 athletes.
“Our athletes are more prepared than ever before. We have intensely focused on coach development, international exposure, and high-performance training camps. With the roar of the home crowd behind them, our fencers are mentally and physically ready to rewrite history,” NFF president Adeyinka Samuel said.
“Team Nigeria is battle-ready. We’ve brought in an international coach from Italy, holding joint training camps with other African nations, and providing targeted support in nutrition, conditioning, and mental preparation. Every athlete understands the stakes—not just winning medals, but igniting the flame of inspiration in the next generation of Nigerian fencers.”
Top of the fencers that will be competing at the tournament is 22-year-old Mohamed El-Sayed of Egypt, the current world number one in fencing and silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
El-Sayed will be joined by his younger brother, Mahmoud El-Sayed, the 2025 Junior World Champion and current Junior World No. 1, as part of a formidable Egyptian team.
The tournament will take place at Charterhouse Lagos, the venue which hosted Nigeria’s first Fencing World Cup last year.
