Team Nigeria begins intensive training for the 2025 African Fencing Championships in Lagos, led by Italian coach Riccardo Bardine

Nigeria fencers prepare in earnest as the 2025 African Fencing Championships draw near, with a 12-member national team entering camp in Lagos ahead of the tournament scheduled from June 25 to 29.

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The athletes, training under Italian coach Riccardo Bardine, are putting finishing touches to their preparations at the Lagos Fencing Club in Lekki.

Bardine’s involvement comes through a strategic partnership between the Nigerian Fencing Federation and the Italian Fencing Federation. The four-year agreement aims to fast-track the sport’s development in Nigeria through expert coaching and international collaboration.

Leading the Nigerian squad are top-ranked fencer Inkosi Brou, U.S.-based talent Peluola Akinbamiro, and promising home-grown contender Wisdom Okanlawon.

The team is training under a high-performance regime that includes joint camps with other African nations and tailored support in nutrition, fitness, and mental readiness.

According to the Nigeria Fencing Federation, 26 African countries have confirmed participation in the Lagos tournament, with over 200 athletes expected to compete.

This edition of the championships will take place at Charterhouse Lagos, the same venue that hosted Nigeria’s inaugural Fencing World Cup.

NFF President Adeyinka Samuel said the home team is prepared to deliver a breakthrough performance. “Our athletes are more prepared than ever before.

We’ve focused intensely on coach development, international exposure, and mental conditioning. With the roar of the home crowd behind them, our fencers are ready to rewrite history,” he stated.

The championships will also feature top global talent, including Egypt’s Mohamed El-Sayed, the world’s current number one fencer and silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

He will be joined by his younger brother, Mahmoud El-Sayed, who is the reigning Junior World Champion and Junior World No. 1.

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The Nigerian team is determined not only to win medals but also to inspire a new generation of athletes to take up the sport.