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Africa’s Top Fencers Light Up Lagos for 23rd African Championships

Fola Badmus06 mins

Lagos, Nigeria’s vibrant commercial capital, is set to host over 150 of the continent’s finest fencers for the 23rd African Fencing Championships, taking place from June 25 to 29, 2025. This prestigious five-day, 12-event tournament will unfold at Charterhouse Lagos, the first British independent school in West Africa. The event will be officially declared open by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday, June 25. This year’s championship promises high-stakes drama and elite competition, with 50 women and 100 men from 18 nations vying for continental glory. It also marks another milestone for Charterhouse Lagos, which successfully hosted Nigeria’s first Fencing World Cup in 2024. The action kicks off on Wednesday, June 25 at the Centre of Excellence, with athletes competing in both individual and team events. The tournament will feature a thrilling mix of regional, continental, Olympic, and world champions. Preliminary rounds will build up to intense medal showdowns, highlighting a dynamic blend of rising stars and seasoned veterans. Stars to Watch With medallists from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games competing in every category, fans can expect fierce rivalries and world-class performances. Picking a favourite will be no easy task as Africa’s elite fencers clash in a celebration of skill, strategy, and sportsmanship. Men’s Épée The men’s individual épée promises a fierce contest, headlined by Mohamed El-Sayed of Egypt, the 22-year-old bronze medalist from Paris 2024 and defending African champion. He’ll face stiff competition from his younger brother, Mahmoud El-Sayed, the reigning world junior champion. Also in the mix is Shamel Youssef (ranked 10th in junior men’s épée), alongside fellow Egyptians Osama Eslam and Elkord Houssam. Egypt’s dominance in this category makes them the team to beat in the men’s team épée. Women’s Épée Defending champion Alexandra Ndolo of Kenya, a 38-year-old Germany-based fencer, will be aiming to retain her title. She faces strong challenges from Tunisian and Egyptian contenders in what promises to be a tightly contested event. Men’s Sabre In the men’s sabre, all eyes will be on Ferjani Fares of Tunisia, world No. 3 and silver medalist at Paris 2024. He’ll be challenged by Egypt’s Mohamed Amer (2024 African champion) and Adham Moataz (2024 silver medalist). Nigeria’s rising star, 17-year-old Brou Inkosi, will also be in the hunt, adding local excitement to the mix. Women’s Sabre Defending champion Lorina Essomba of Cameroon will need to be at her best to fend off a strong Egyptian contingent. Expect fast-paced action and tactical brilliance in this category. Men’s Foil Egypt’s Mohamed Hamza, the defending champion, will face a major challenge from compatriot Tolba Abdelrahman, the current world junior No. 1. Their potential gold medal clash could be one of the highlights of the tournament. Women’s Foil Egypt’s Yara Elsharkawy, 26, is the one to beat. After clinching double gold (individual and team) at the 2024 African Championships in Morocco, she returns to defend her titles in Lagos. Team Events Egypt remains the dominant force in both men’s and women’s team events, especially in foil and épée. Their women’s squad will aim to retain titles across all three weapons: foil, épée, and sabre. Tunisia’s men’s sabre team, the reigning champions, will need to be at their best to fend off a star-studded Egyptian lineup. Home Team Spotlight: Nigeria Nigeria’s 12-man squad heads into the African Fencing Championships with a determination to break their medal drought at the continental showpiece. For many team members, the tournament presents a crucial opportunity to earn valuable ranking points in their quest to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The team features a dynamic blend of foreign-based and homegrown talent and stands out as one of the youngest contingents in the competition. Leading the charge is Inkosi Brou, Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer, whose presence adds both experience and excitement to the youthful lineup.

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Favour Ofili Dumps Nigeria, Switches Allegiance to Turkey

Fola Badmus04 mins

Favour Ofili, the Nigerian-born sprinting talent who recently broke the women’s 150-meter world record, according to world media, has officially transferred her athletic allegiance to Turkey, less than three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 22-year-old LSU alumna, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest track prospects, is said to have made the switch in response to what she described as years of mistreatment and mismanagement by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). According to reports first shared by Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor, Ofili completed her nationality change on May 31, 2025, notifying the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her decision. Raynor cited sources within the TVJ News Centre, noting that Ofili had expressed “growing frustration” with the Nigerian athletics authorities. In one social media post, Raynor wrote, “She has switched allegiance to Turkey as of May 31. According to impeccable sources, 22-year-old Ofili has advised the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation.” Ofili’s decision reportedly stems from a pattern of administrative issues, including her controversial omission from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to delayed doping test confirmations. More recently, she was left out of the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics and only competed in the 200m final, where she placed sixth. Although Ofili has yet to make a formal public statement, sources close to the athlete suggest her decision was not financially motivated. Nonetheless, the move aligns with a broader trend, as Türkiye has been actively recruiting elite international athletes in recent years. Reports indicate that the country has offered incentives of up to $500,000 in its drive to attract top-tier talent. Ofili joins a growing list of athletes who have opted to represent other nations amid dissatisfaction with their home federations. At the time of this report, World Athletics still lists her as representing Nigeria, although the change is expected to be updated soon. In May, Ofili stunned the global athletics community by setting a new world record in the women’s 150m event at the Adidas Atlanta City Games. She clocked 15.85 seconds, breaking the previous record of 16.23 seconds held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo. With her switch to Turkey now confirmed, all eyes will be on Ofili as she prepares to represent her new country at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.

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Mission X: Super Falcons Impressive in Scoreless Draw With Portugal

Fola Badmus04 mins

Reigning Africa’s best goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie had a game to remember forever as Nigeria’s Super Falcons provided both flair and steel in a 0-0 draw with hosts Portugal in a pre-WAFCON friendly match in Lisbon on Monday. The nine-time African champions, aspiring boldly for a 10th title, only arrived in Portugal less than 24 hours before the encounter, but advertised no signs of fatigue or lassitude as they stood up to the Portuguese in a game that indicated readiness to battle for the continental crown in Morocco. A back pass by Christy Ucheibe allowed Diana Silva sight of the Nigeria goal in the 6th minute, but her shot spurned the ball away from goal. In the 9th minute, Nnadozie plucked the ball off the air from a pull-out, and at the other end, the fabulous Francisca Ordega cut into the box and found captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose smart turn and shot nearly wrong-footed goalkeeper Ines Pereira. Nnadozie pulled off another epic save in the 24th minute, and as the home girls launched onslaught after onslaught, only Nnadozie’s heroics and stonewall defending by the Falcons kept the scoreline even. Just before half time, Nigeria could have taken the lead against the run of play, but Rinsola Babajide overhit the ball from an opportunity that presented itself after Ordega had been foiled with a last-ditch effort. In the second stanza, Africa’s number one pulled off three world-class saves within a spate of four minutes, denying the dangerous Jessica Silva, Fatima Pinto and Andreia Norton. The injection of Ifeoma Onumonu, Ashleigh Plumptre and Halimatu Ayinde rejuvenated Nigeria’s game, and as the Falcons took control, Ordega’s brilliant move and pass into the box in the 64th minute went begging. The Falcons revved the engine to dominate the final 20 minutes, during which the vibrant Ordega rattled the crossbar from distance and Onumonu just fell short of squaring past the goalkeeper from another inspired Ordega cross. At the end, the Super Falcons gave a good account of themselves, and left the Portuguese fans stunned with an elegant outing at the Estádio José Gomes. The Nigeria contingent will depart from Lisbon for Casablanca on Wednesday, where they will take on Ghana’s Black Queens in another friendly match on Sunday. Their first match of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations comes up on Sunday, 6th July against Tunisia in Casablanca.

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Team Nigeria Unveils Squad for 23rd African Fencing Championships

Fola Badmus03 mins

The Nigeria Fencing Federation has announced a 12-member squad for the 23rd African Fencing Championships, scheduled to take place at Charterhouse Lagos from June 25 to 29, 2025. This marks only the third time the continental tournament will be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa, following previous editions in Senegal (2002) and Mali (2009, 2019). Leading the Nigerian team is U.S.-based Inkosi Brou, the first Nigerian fencer to win a medal at an international event. Brou, who recently clinched bronze at the 2025 African Junior Championships in Angola, brings valuable experience to the squad despite being just 17 years old. He has competed in several international tournaments this year as part of his journey toward qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Notably, he is the grandson of the late NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Dora Akunyili. Joining Brou is UK-based Oluwafolayemi Akinyosoye, alongside homegrown talent including Wisdom Okanlawon; siblings Mahatir and Mahadi Idongesit, Olumuyiwa Ige, Oritsematosan Egbesemirone, Alex Chizim Aninyei, and Babade Adegbola. The women’s squad features Peluola Akinbamiro, Somto Eribenne, Sara Idongesit, and Adebodunrin Thomas. Team Nigeria will compete in both individual and team events across the three fencing disciplines: foil, epee, and sabre. National coach Ibrahim Alogba expressed confidence in the youthful team, noting their potential to surprise more experienced opponents. “Our team is the youngest in terms of age and experience, which reduces the pressure on them. This could work in our favor. We may be young, but we are not intimidated by records or reputations. We are ready to break Nigeria’s medal drought in this tournament,” he said. Italian coach Riccardo Bardin, who has been training the team since his arrival a week ago, also praised the athletes’ potential but urged patience as they continue to develop. In addition to host nation Nigeria, other participating countries include Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Senegal, Mauritius, Angola, Rwanda, Niger, South Africa, Guinea, Libya, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde. The tournament will feature 12 events made up of six individual and six team events in foil, epee, and sabre.

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WTT Contender Lagos 2025 Unveils Stellar Lineup

Fola Badmus04 mins

The star-studded line-up for the 2025 WTT Contender Lagos has been officially unveiled, with the tournament set to take place from July 22 to 26 in Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital. Widely regarded as one of the most thrilling events in the WTT Contender Series, this year’s edition promises a showcase of elite talent from across the globe. Among the headline acts are women’s world No. 9 Hina Hayata of Japan, African champion Hana Goda of Egypt, and rising French sensation Prithika Pavade. Making her debut in Lagos, the 24-year-old Hayata is seen as a formidable challenger to China’s dominance in women’s table tennis. Ranked as the fourth-highest Japanese player in women’s singles, she is a key figure in Japan’s golden generation. A silver and bronze Olympic medallist, Hayata has consistently delivered top-tier performances, earning multiple podium finishes at both the World and Asian Championships. Known for her powerful left-handed play, Hayata was also the most successful athlete in the ITTF Challenger Series—the precursor to the WTT Series—demonstrating her ability to dominate competitive fields. She enters the Lagos tournament as the highest-ranked women’s singles player and a strong favourite for the title. In the men’s singles category, Danish star Anders Lind returns to Lagos, where he enjoys strong fan support. Lind will be aiming to end his title drought but will face stiff competition from Nigerian ace Quadri Aruna, who missed the 2024 edition due to club commitments. Also joining the men’s line-up are Croatian powerhouse Tomislav Pucar, Japanese prodigy Yuta Tanaka, and Africa’s top junior player, Wassim Essid of Tunisia, who will be looking to make his mark against the world’s best. Meanwhile, Tournament Director Kweku Tandoh has reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment to elevating the event’s profile. “We are determined to keep raising the bar in hosting a world-class tournament. Our goal is not just to maintain standards but to introduce fresh ideas that continue to attract top talent to Lagos,” Tandoh said. He added, “With some of the world’s best players returning and others making their debut based on the tournament’s growing reputation, it’s clear we’re on the right path. We will keep innovating to enhance the sport.” In a major boost, the prize money has been increased to $100,000, up from $75,000. Players will compete across five categories: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Winners in each event will earn 400 ranking points.

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Continental Fencing Heavyweights Storm Nigeria for 23rd African Championships

Fola Badmus03 mins

Egypt and Tunisia, two of Africa’s fencing powerhouses, have arrived in Nigeria ahead of the 23rd African Fencing Championships, which will take place at Charterhouse Lagos from Wednesday, June 25, to Sunday, June 29. The five-day, 12-event tournament will feature top fencers from across the continent, all vying for the 12 gold medals up for grabs in both individual and team events. Egypt, the most decorated nation in African fencing, has arrived with the largest contingent. Their squad is headlined by the El-Sayed brothers—Olympic bronze medallist Mohamed El-Sayed and world junior champion Mahmoud El-Sayed. Mohamed, 22, claimed bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and also won gold at the 2022 Mediterranean Games. His younger brother, Mahmoud, recently clinched gold at the 2025 Junior World Championships in Wuxi, China, and currently holds the world No. 1 junior ranking. The Egyptian team, which landed in Lagos aboard an EgyptAir flight from Cairo, is determined to defend the overall title they secured in 2024. Tunisia, another fencing powerhouse, has also touched down in Lagos with a strong squad led by Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Farès Ferjani. The 27-year-old is the reigning champion in the individual men’s sabre and will also lead Tunisia’s men’s sabre team. Other participating nations, including Mauritius, Angola, Rwanda, South Africa, Guinea, Morocco, Libya, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, are expected to arrive on Tuesday, June 24, ahead of the tournament’s opening day. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Fencing Federation has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from corporate sponsors and individuals, particularly Charterhouse, the host venue, which also staged the 2024 World Cup. Federation President Adeyinka Samuel stated: “We are truly grateful for the support from government agencies and corporate bodies in helping to put Nigeria on the global fencing map through the hosting of this continental championship. Charterhouse has been a steadfast partner since the 2024 World Cup, and their continued support is deeply appreciated. We hope this inspires other institutions to follow their lead.”

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CAF CHAN 2024: Tanzania to Host Opening match, Kenya to Host Final Match

Fola Badmus03 mins

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in consultation with the three Nations that will host this year’s CAF African Nations Championship Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (CHAN) 2024 have announced the venues that will host the Opening, Third and Fourth and the Final Match of the Competition. The CAF African Nations Championship Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (CHAN) 2024 will be held between 02 – 30 August, 2025, marking a return to East African soil following the 2016 edition in Rwanda. Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam will host the opening match of TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda (CHAN) 2024 on 02 August 2024. The Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda has been designated to host the third and fourth match of the event. Kenya’s Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi will host the Final match of the Competition on 30 August 2025. The Host Nations:The Opening Match will be hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Saturday, 02 August. The Final Match will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, 30 August. The Third-Place Match will be staged in Kampala, Uganda Additionally, Zanzibar has been designated as one of the Host Venues – a decision that underscores CAF’s commitment to expanding the reach and inclusivity of African football. Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium recently staged a successful TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 Final in May this year. The Host Cities for the Group Stages of the tournament are as follows: Group A | Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, ZambiaGroup B | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African RepublicGroup C | Kampala, Uganda: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, AlgeriaGroup D | Zanzibar: Senegal, *Congo, Sudan, Nigeria *Following the decision of the of the CAF Appeals Board, Equatorial Guinea was replaced by Congo.

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8th African Nations Championship: Super Eagles B to Play Group Phase Games in Zanzibar

Fola Badmus03 mins

2018 silver-medallists Nigeria will play their group B matches of the 8th African Nations Championship in Zanzibar – a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. It is an island of less than two million people. Nigeria is in group B with Cup holders Senegal, Congo and Sudan. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the three East African nations that have been jointly awarded the hosting right for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals, have been mandated to host this year’s African Nations Championship as proper dress rehearsal. The tournament will be staged 2nd – 30th August. According to an announcement by the Confederation of African Football on Thursday, the tournament’s opening match will take place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam (mainland Tanzania), while the third and fourth matches will hold at the Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda. The final match, on Saturday 30th August, will be played at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. With the defenestration of Equatorial Guinea from the tournament following a ruling of the CAF Appeals Committee, Congo has been restored to Nigeria’s group B. The Super Eagles B, who were also bronze-medallists in South Africa in 2014, qualified for this year’s finals after a 3-1 aggregate defeat of Ghana in their qualifying fixture in December last year. GROUP A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia (Nairobi) GROUP B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic (Dar es Salaam) GROUP C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, Algeria (Kampala) GROUP D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria (Zanzibar)

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