The Nigeria Fencing Federation has officially named an 11-man squad that will represent Nigeria at next month’s All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.
According to the federations’ boss, Adeyinka Samuel the Nigerian team will compete for honours in the sport with eight male and three females. The male fencers are Adeniyi Williams, Harrison Okoro, Femi Sangowawa, Fega Okwa, Zulu Shuaib, Olayinka Oladele Sulaimon Bello and Samuel, who himself is a top fencer having been ranked in the top 100 in the world few years ago.
US-based Aikenosi Akhigbe, Jane Ishioma Yadi, who is based in the UK, and Damilola Odeleye are the female members of the team. The training schedule has also been stepped up in order to get the best out of the team.
Samuel, who has featured in a host of international championships, expressed confidence on the team to scoop a number of medals which he believes will help Nigeria’s course to finish among the top three in the final table.
He hinged his optimism on the decent outing posted by some of the country’s fencers at the last African Fencing Championship in Egypt in June.
“We are delighted to been officially registered by the organizers of the All Africa Games and we are determine to make the most of the opportunity presented to us to make a great impact which we believe will help in the popularity as well as the development of the sport in Nigeria,” Samuel stated, as he urged the Sports Ministry to pay some attention to fencing which he pointed is a multi-medal sport.
Nigeria will be featuring in the individual and team events in Sabre, Epee and Foil.
