Tag: Fencing World Cup

Nigerian siblings Sarah and Mahathir Idongesit  has  described their participation at  the at the FIE Junior World Cup in Cairo, Egypt, as valuable exposure ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Championships.

Sarah, competing in the women’s epee, impressed in her debut outing by advancing from a group of seven fencers in Pool 4. However, her progress was halted in the knockout round following a defeat to Russia’s Viktoria Ramenskova.

Mahathir, meanwhile, faced a tougher challenge and was unable to progress beyond the group stage, having been drawn against some of the finest young fencers in the world.

Despite the results, the siblings described their participation as a crucial learning experience.

“Competing in Egypt has added more knowledge to me, especially going up against some of the best fencers in the world. This is a rare opportunity I truly cherish, and I hope to attend more tournaments ahead of the Commonwealth Championships in Nigeria later this year,” Sarah said.

For Mahathir, the tournament was equally valuable: “I had no expectations for this competition, and that took away the pressure. I aimed to improve and gain experience, which I hope to build on before the Commonwealth Championships later in the year,” he explained.

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The two‑day FIE‑sanctioned event featured participants from over 30 countries, underscoring its competitive depth.

Meanwhile, Nigerian fencing coach Bola Suru, supported by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), was part of the technical crew in Cairo.

She contributed to the three‑day FIE training camp that preceded the tournament, designed to support athletes during this critical phase of preparation ahead of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.

According to Suru, the camp—made possible through Olympic Solidarity—offered valuable exposure and learning opportunities, further strengthening Nigeria’s pathway in international fencing.

Nigeria is set to make history as the first Men’s Junior Epee World Cup in Sub-Saharan Africa begins on Saturday, December 14, at Charterhouse Lagos.

This landmark event, sanctioned by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), will feature teams from Benin Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Oman, and host Nigeria.

A total of 34 fencers will compete for honours in the individual events, with world ranking points at stake.

This two-day tournament marks the first international event hosted by the iconic Charterhouse Lagos building.

Top officials from the FIE and Commonwealth Fencing Federation will be present to oversee the competition.

Nigeria is also vying to host the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in 2026.

Meanwhile, coach Ibrahim Alogba of Nigeria has expressed confidence in his team, led by Wisdom Okanlawon, as they prepare to challenge their international counterparts.

All eyes will be on Egypt’s Eslam Osama, the tournament’s top seed.

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The Egyptian team boasts three top seeds, including Youssef Shamel and Mahmoud Elsayed, ranked second and third respectively.

Other top contenders include Hong Kong’s Kenton Jia Hsu and Greece’s Artemios Tzovanis.

The excitement surrounding the event underscores its significance to the Nigeria Fencing Federation, led by Adeyinka Samuel.

“Our athletes used to travel abroad for major competitions to earn ranking points. Now, with this event in Nigeria, they can save costs and gain points ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers. We are thrilled that months of preparation will culminate in this historic tournament on December 14. It signifies our growth in African fencing,” Samuel stated.

The Nigeria Fencing Federation has announced a seven-man squad for the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup, holding December 14 and 15 at Charterhouse Lagos.

Leading the squad is former African cadet and national junior champion, Wisdom Okanlawon.

The 17-year-old 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. The squad also includes Oluwashemilore Fashola (17), Mustapha Fuad (16), Olumuyiwa Ige (17), Bade Martins (17), and Ramadan Sumon (15).

This talented group of young fencers is poised to represent Nigeria with pride and determination on the international stage under the guidance of coach Ibrahim Alogba, who expressed optimism about the athletes’ potential.

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A delighted Fashola, 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.”

Meanwhile, some participating athletes and teams arrived yesterday, Thursday ahead of the tournament.

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, alongside

Referees from South Africa and Senegal.

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

The President of British Fencing (BF), Patricia Aiyenuro, is expected  to be one of the distinguished officials attending the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee  Fencing World Cup, holding between  December 14 and 15 at Charterhouse Lagos.

Aiyenuro, who succeeded Hilary Philbin after three terms, has been a pivotal figure in the British fencing community.

Elected to the BF Board in 2020, Aiyenuro has also served on the International Relations Committee. Her extensive experience includes 17 years of volunteering in various capacities, such as Chair of Camden

Fencing Club and GBR Head of Delegation for major championships.

In her current role, she has been instrumental in fostering relationships within the international fencing community. Her term as BF President will continue until the federation’s AGM after the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, believes  Aiyenuro’s presence  would be  a significant step towards collaboration between Nigeria and Great Britain.

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“The presence of the BF President signifies the beginning of a fruitful partnership between Nigerian and British fencing. She advises the BF board on international matters and sports development issues. We believe this is a step towards a strong partnership with BF,” Samuel stated.

The atmosphere at Charterhouse Lagos is electric as it prepares to host its first international sports tournament.

John Todd, Head of Education at Charterhouse Lagos, expressed his excitement: “We are thrilled to host this event and look forward to many more. Our world-class facilities are perfect for such competitions, and we anticipate a long-term partnership with the Nigeria Fencing Federation.”

Todd added: “We expect a lot of excitement and fun. We want the competitors to have a smooth experience and enjoy the hospitality and warmth of Charterhouse Lagos.”

Fencing top country Saudi Arabia has joined the train to Lagos for the Fencing World Cup holding from December 14 to 15.

The Saudi team is the latest to register for the International Fencing Federation (FIE)-ranking tournament.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, countries such as U.S, Hong Kong, Benin Republic, Greece, Togo, Senegal, Angola, and Ghana have confirmed their participation. Kenya has also recently shown interest in joining the tournament.

Charterhouse Lagos, a prestigious international school in Nigeria, and host of the championship has also confirmed its readiness for the tournament.

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John Todd, Director of Education at Charterhouse Lagos, expressed excitement about Nigeria hosting this global event and pledged the school’s commitment to fostering the sport’s growth in the country.

“Charterhouse Lagos is the first British independent school in West Africa, part of the 400-year history of Charterhouse School in the UK. Fencing is a traditional part of the UK independent school program, so this is a natural fit for us,” Todd explained.

He continued: “We have world-class facilities and have been seeking partnerships with top-tier sports organizations. Our facilities are unmatched in Lagos, making this partnership a natural choice. We plan to bring in our fencing coach and equipment as part of our long-term strategy. We fully support the Fencing Federation of Nigeria’s efforts to bring the Commonwealth Championship to Nigeria. This partnership aligns with our core values and offers an excellent opportunity for our school to nurture talent.”

Top fencing nations including the United States, Hong Kong, Egypt, and others, are set for  the 2024 Men’s Junior World Cup scheduled to hold in Lagos  between  December 14 and 15.

Nigeria’s prestigious international school, Charterhouse Lagos, will host the tournament, which will serve as a point-earning event for the athletes.

Other countries already confirmed for the two-day championship include Ghana, Senegal, Greece, Angola, Togo, Benin Republic, and host Nigeria.

According to Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Nigeria will be the first Sub-Saharan African country to host the Fencing World Cup, aside from North African nations like Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event will allow Nigerian fencers to compete with their international counterparts and showcase Nigeria as a leading fencing nation in Africa.

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 “We are excited about the opportunity given to Nigeria to stage this important event. We are grateful to the management of Charterhouse Lagos for agreeing to host the tournament. This is a rare opportunity for any country in Africa, and we are thrilled to become the first Sub-Saharan African country to host the World Cup. Having successfully hosted the African championships in 2018 and 2020, we have been eager to host the World Cup. Our bid was unanimously supported, and this event will provide our fencers with the chance to experience top-class competition at home,” Samuel said.

In addition to competing, the tournament will allow local players to earn points ahead of the qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in the United States.

John Todd, Director of Education at Charterhouse Lagos, expressed the school’s enthusiasm for hosting the event.

 “We are excited that Nigeria is hosting such an event. At Charterhouse Lagos, fencing has been part of the UK’s independent youth program,” Todd said. “Partnering with the Nigeria Fencing Federation is a long-term collaboration that we believe will help grow the sport. “

He added :“We are also supporting their quest to stage the Commonwealth Championships, as we have the facilities to support them. We believe more young Nigerians will embrace the sport, and we are committed to supporting Nigeria in improving the state of fencing.”

For Nigeria’s teenage fencers, Shemilore Fashola and Wisdom Okanlawon, the tournament will provide an opportunity to compete against some of the finest fencers in the world.