Cash crunch may scuttle team’s travel plans
Ahead of the 20th edition of the World Youth Scrabble Champion (2025 WYSC) , has named four player comprising two male and two female, for the event which holds between August 30th and September 1st at Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
According to the NSF, the team will be captained by Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu, a multiple gold medal winner at the National Youth Games. Aliu was part of Team Nigeria to the last World Youth Championship in Sri Lanka where he finished among the top 25 players out of the 134 in attendance despite missing the opening game of Day 2 of the competition.
Also in the team is Prestige Archibong who recently won the U-19 category of the African Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya.
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Another talented wordsmith that made the cut is 2025 African Youth Scrabble Championships U-15 event winners, Sophia Ebube Ekeruche while , Joy Eberechukwu Nwabuzor, a key member of Team Nigeria to the just concluded African Youth Scrabble Championships, complete the list to Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the President of NSF, Engineer Olobatoke Aka , said in an interview at the weekend that the team was carefully selected based on their experience, track record, current form and their ability to navigate big Championships.
But the dreams of these youngsters to represent the country in Malaysia could be a mirage as the NSF has yet to secure the much needed funds to travel for the championship.
Recall that Nigeria’s recent international outing at the African Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya, was funded by the Kwara State government, the NSF, through its President Engineer Aka, Chairman Lagos State Scrabble and Monopoly Association (LSSAMA), Engineer Dipo Akanbi as well as families of some the players.
Incidentally, Nigeria was represented by two players, Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu and Sufyan Boluwatife Olojoku , who were sponsored by the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq-led Kwara State.
Government under the stewardship of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq.