Tag: WESPAC 2025

Fresh from the electrifying World English-Language Scrabble Players Championship (WESPAC) in Accra, Ghana, President of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, is already sketching a future bursting with possibility for the ‘words game’ in Africa.

With two major regional championships, two senior competitions, and a growing biannual Youth Scrabble Championship already on the continent’s calendar, Africa has never been more active on the global Scrabble map. But Adegbesan believes this is only the beginning.

“We’ve tasted what is possible,” he declared, outlining how the momentum from WESPAC 2025 can transform Scrabble into a continental powerhouse.

At the heart of his vision is education. Adegbesan wants scrabble embedded in school curricular across Africa, describing it as a proven tool for building vocabulary, sharpening critical thinking, and enhancing strategic problem-solving in young learners.

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He is, therefore,  calling for sustained investment in mind-sport infrastructure, using the visibility and excitement generated by WESPAC to build training programs, competitive pathways, and learning hubs that will elevate the intellectual sport across Africa.

Adegbesan believes  the time is ripe for more regional and national tournaments, capitalizing on the wave of media attention  scrabble has enjoyed in recent months. More events, he believes, will unearth new talent and expand participation at grassroots level.

Beyond competition, Adegbesan highlighted  scrabble’s potential as an economic and developmental tool, stressing that the sport can attract investment, boost tourism, and create jobs for teachers, coaches, and trainers across the continent.

He also urged stronger government involvement, insisting that policy backing and national recognition are essential for sustained growth.

And on the international front, he wants Africa to tighten its partnership with WESPA, using the global body’s resources and expertise to fuel the continent’s rise.

With Kenya set to host the World Youth Scrabble Championships in 2026, and Liberia awarded the African Scrabble Championship in the same year, the stage is already set for Africa’s next leap.

 “We need more schools, more investment, and more government support,” he said. “If we build on the foundation 2025 WESPAC has given us, Africa will become the constant heartbeat of world Scrabble.”

Team Nigeria won the Best Country title at the 2025 WESPA Championship  that had 28 countries in attendance ahead of Ghana and Kenya.

Uganda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, South Africa, Mauritius, Zambia, Tanzania and Togo were also in attendance at the World Championship in Accra, Ghana.

Team Nigeria touched down in Lagos on Monday, carrying not just luggage, but a statement, a thunderous declaration that the new kings of world scrabble wear green and white.

Twenty players. Seven officials. One united force.

And together, they dethroned the  United States in Accra to emerge World Scrabble Champions, outclassing 27 other nations in a tournament packed with intensity, adrenaline, and pure grit.

Led by a one-time continental champion and captain Rex Ogbakpa, the Nigerians didn’t just win, they dominated.

The duo of Oluwatimilehin Doko, current continental champion and his tactical partner Abdulmumin Jimoh, both from the Gateway State, carved through the field with clinical brilliance, turning the once-invincible Americans into mere spectators. It was chess with letters, war with words and Nigeria was the master strategist.

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Adding firepower were the five “Word Lords’’ from Warri Scrabble Club, whose razor-sharp gameplay kept opponents scrambling. Lagos came loaded too, with Dipo Akanbi, John Aiyedun, and Hakeem Olaribigbe, all Lagos civil servants, stamping authority with ice-cold precision.

Edo State’s pride, Godwin Victor and George Ezinore, stood tall, delivering performances that echoed Nigeria’s strength in depth.

In the heart of the victory, the message was unmistakable. Team Nigeria’s never-say-die spirit, unity, and courage were the real champions.

And nobody captured this better than Lagos ace Dipo Akanbi, who hailed the squad’s attitude as “a brotherhood built on fight, faith, and absolute belief,” praising the collective spirit that fuelled the triumph.

World Champion Wellington Jighere showered praise on the team, describing their performance as “a powerful reminder of Nigeria’s unmatched pedigree in global scrabble.”

Vice President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Lovejoy Ogbuokiri Ezinna, not only applauded the historic win but also backed his words with financial support to the team, a gesture that drew warm appreciation from players and officials who had given everything for the country.

The oldest member of Team Nigeria, Chinedu Thorpe amorously called Sidespin, captures the feeling of the group with these short but very heart-warming words, “Thank you NSF for a wonderful and remarkable opportunity to represent the country.

 “Congratulations Team Nigeria once again. We rule the World.”

Back home, preparations are already underway to present the gleaming gold-plated trophy to the National Sports Commission (NSC), a moment that will etch yet another chapter in Nigeria’s rich scrabble legacy.

For now, the champions savour the glory. In two years, they will defend not just a title but the pride of a nation.

Team Nigeria reigns. And the world is officially on notice.

Canada’s Adam Logan clinches  individual title 

In a blistering, history-bending performance that electrified Accra, Team Nigeria ripped the Best Country crown away from the all-powerful United States, storming to the summit of the 2025 WESPAC World Scrabble Championship and rewriting African Scrabble history in the process.

From Day One to Day Four, the 15-man Nigerian squad didn’t just compete, they ruled, turning the Ghanaian capital into a theatre of dominance.

Oluwatimilehin Doko the 25-year-old sensation spearheading Nigeria’s conquest alongside Abdulmumin Jimoh, Tega Okiemute, Godwin Victor and captain Rex Ogbakpa.

Nigeria’s numbers were brutal: 350 wins; +8975 cumulative points spread and 54.7% winning ratio.

These weren’t just statistics, they were a statement as Team Nigeria stunned United States, who arrived with 19 players:

Two years ago in Las Vegas, Nigeria narrowly lost the Best Country title to the USA.

In Accra, they came for revenge and they collected it.

While Nigeria stole the headlines, Ghana emerged as the soul of the championship, finishing a brilliant second place with 114 wins, ahead of continental rivals Kenya.

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Led by the steady brilliance of Stanley Ubiedi, Addo George, Charles Menson, Edwin Boamah, and Fatawu Bayenang, the Black Stars’ warriors lit up the halls with grit and flair.

Stanley Ubiedi, finishing 13^th  in the world with 20 wins and a +739 spread, a performance that had the home crowd on its feet.

Behind Nigeria and Ghana, the continent surged, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and South Africa all cracked the Top 10 in the Best Country standings, a resounding declaration that African Scrabble has stepped into a new era.

In the individual category, debutant Doko delivered one of the greatest African performances in WESPAC history, finishing fifth  in the world after a fierce 21-win campaign with +1395 points.

He narrowly missed a place in the grand finale, but etched his name among the elite.

Not since Wellington Jighere’s world-shocking 2015 title and finished fourth two years ago, Doko is one of the very privileged African player hit such heights.

And Nigeria didn’t stop there, five Nigerians stormed into the prestigious Top 20, the best ever outing by any African nation: Oluwatimilehin Doko; Tega Okiemute; Abdulmumin Jimoh; Godwin Victor and Rex Ogbakpa

The individual category title went to Adam Logan of Canada. He defeated Nigel Richards 4-2 in the best of seven  final.

As the final tile was played, the green-white-green corner erupted. Nigeria partied deep into Saturday night, led by the newly elected NSF President, Engineer Bright Idahosa, who hailed the team’s unity, courage, and championship spirit.

 “We are proud of your achievements,” Idahosa said, glowing. “Your unity and resilience carried the true Nigerian spirit despite all challenges.”

Head coach Anthony Ikolo added:  “This team gave everything. Toppling the USA after their 19-player strength shows the heart of champions.”

The triumphant team are expected back  in Lagos today  bringing home a crown Nigeria has chased for years.

In a dazzling display of linguistic firepower and mental agility, Team Nigeria stormed the opening day of the 2025 World English-Language Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) in Accra, Ghana, stamping their authority in the words’  game

Out of 129 elite players from 28 nations, Nigeria’s 20-man contingent made their presence felt early, with six Nigerians muscling their way into the Top 20 on Day 1.

Leading the charge is Bayelsa’s Timi Woko, who finished the opening day undefeated with a perfect 7–0 record, sitting comfortably at the summit of the global leaderboard.

Behind him, a trio of Delta State born wordsmiths, George Ezinore (4^th ), Godwin Victor (8^th ), and Rex Ogbakpa (10^th ), kept Nigeria’s flag flying high, while Oluwatimilehin Doko of Ogun (11^th ) and Chinedu Thorpe of Anambra (16^th ) rounded off the nation’s dominant showing.

It was a statement of intent—loud, deliberate and unmistakable.

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The Palms by Eagles Hotel in Accra was buzzing as over 250 of the world’s finest players gathered for what has been dubbed the “Battle of Brains and Vocabulary.”

With categories like the Akwaaba Challenge, Sika Gold Challenge, and the flagship WESPAC Main Event, the week-long championship promises to test wit, composure, and sheer intellectual stamina.

But it was Nigeria the continental powerhouse that grabbed the early headlines. The Green-and-White delegation, known for their methodical preparation and decades-long dominance in global Scrabble, didn’t just show up, they took over.

As other nations watched in awe, Nigeria’s contingent—composed of 15 national qualifiers and  five  late entrants who fought through the Last Chance Qualifier, played with clinical precision, showing that every tile counts and every move tells a story.

Day 1’s top 20 featured players from 12 countries but none matched Nigeria’s depth. Singapore, Ghana, and South Africa managed two players each, while global heavyweights like the U.S., U.K., and Canada were reduced to lone flag-bearers.

For Nigeria, it wasn’t just about points on a board, it was about pride, legacy, and reminding the world that when it comes to Scrabble, Africa’s heartbeat nation reigns supreme.

At the opening ceremony, Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, declared Scrabble a “celebration of intellect and language,” while pledging to integrate the mind sport into Ghana’s education and wellness programs.

The ceremony glittered with dignitaries and international Scrabble officials, but it was the Nigerian players, focused, calm and quietly confident, who stole the whispers of admiration in the room.

As the championship enters Day 2, all eyes are on Team Nigeria.

TOP 20 AFTER DAY 1

6-Nigerians

2-Singaporeans

2-Ghanaians

2-South Africans

2-Britons

1-Canadian

1-Thai

1-Liberian

1-New Zealander

1-American

1-Gambian

NIGERIA’S TOP SIX

1^st: Timi Woko(7-0)

4^th: George Ezinore (6 – 1)

8^th: Godwin Victor (6 – 1)

10^th: Rex Ogbakpa (5 – 2)

11^th: Oluwatimilehin Doko (5 – 2)

16^th: Chinedu Thorpe(5 – 2)