Tag: Fencing Federation

As part of the strategic four-year partnership between the Nigerian Fencing Federation (NFF) and the Italian Fencing Federation (Federazione Italiana Scherma, FIS), a top-tier Italian coach will arrive in Lagos this month to work with the Nigerian team ahead of the 2025 African Senior Fencing Championships, holding between  June 25 and  29 in Lagos.

The partnership, signed in December 2024, aims to accelerate the development of fencing in Nigeria through technical support and knowledge exchange. The deployment of an elite Italian coach is one of the key deliverables of this collaboration.

Riccardo Bardine, a highly respected figure in the international fencing community, will lead a two-week intensive training program for Nigerian coaches and athletes. Bardine is a certified fencing coach, strength and conditioning expert, and Paralympic sports specialist. He studied Sport Science and completed his fencing education at the prestigious Club Scherma Pisa Antonio Di Ciolo—one of the world’s most renowned fencing institutions.

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Bardine brings a wealth of experience, having coached at elite clubs such as Circolo Scherma La Spezia and Club Scherma Rapallo. He has also served on the coaching staff of Italy’s U17 National Épée Team and has trained top-level athletes in both foil and épée disciplines.

As a former athlete, Bardine boasts an impressive résumé: a bronze medal at the Italian U23 Foil Championships, a silver at the National Team Championships (B Series, promoted to A Series), and two selections for the Junior National Épée Team at World Cups. He is also a certified Olympic weightlifting coach and specializes in physical preparation for both able-bodied and Paralympic athletes. Beyond the training camp, Bardine will lead the technical crew of Team Nigeria during the African Championships in Lagos.

President of the Nigerian Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, expressed his excitement about the development, emphasizing the federation’s  commitment to growing the sport and enhancing the capacity of both athletes and coaches.

“This is one of the many benefits of our international partnership with a top fencing nation. Bringing a coach of Bardine’s calibre to Nigeria is not only cost-effective but also impactful, as it allows our coaches and athletes, both local and foreign-based, to learn directly from a world-class expert,” Samuel said. “We remain committed to seeking more support from both the private and public sectors as we work toward our ultimate goal: qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” Samuel said.

The Nigeria Fencing Federation has picked  a seven-member squad for next month’s World Junior Fencing Championships in Wuxi, China from April 7 to 15.

Leading the team is Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer, Inkosi Brou, who has been highly active this year, participating in numerous tournaments in his quest to become the first Nigerian to compete in the Olympic fencing event.

Brou, ranked 22^nd  in the junior category by the International Fencing Federation, brings a wealth of experience and is expected to guide the team in China. He will be joined by home-based fencer Wisdom Okanlawon, who will participate in the training camp preceding the tournament.

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Okanlawon, a rising star among Africa’s top fencers, will benefit from the training camp, which features some of the world’s finest coaches. This experience will be invaluable for the young athlete.

Peluola Akinbamiro, who made her debut for Nigeria at the recent African Junior Championships in Angola, will also compete in China, aiming to make a significant impact and establish herself in the sport. Like Brou, Akinbamiro is based in the US and is eyeing a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The Idongesit siblings—Mahadi, Mahathir, and Sara—are set to make their eagerly-awaited debut for Nigeria in China.

Additionally, Somto Eribenne will make her first appearance in 2025, hoping to improve her world ranking through this tournament.

According to Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, the selection of these young athletes highlights Nigeria’s talent in the sport. He emphasized that exposure to high-level tournaments will boost their confidence for future events.

“We are excited about the athletes’ enthusiasm for the world championship. Our efforts are yielding results, and we believe we are on the right track to have our athletes represent Nigeria at the Olympic Games. This mix of home-grown and foreign-based talent will gain valuable experience for major events. We are still seeking support for the sport, especially as Nigeria is becoming a force in fencing in Sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to sustain this momentum with the Senior African Championships in June and the Commonwealth Championships in 2026,” he said.