Vice-President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Rachel Samuel, has backed Nigerian fencers to challenge for medals when the country hosts the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships.
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Samuel described the tournament as a landmark moment for both Nigeria and the African continent after the country secured the hosting rights for the prestigious competition.
“It’s a historic achievement for Nigeria and Africa,” Samuel said.
The championships, scheduled to take place from August 9 to 14, will see Nigeria become only the second African nation to stage the event after South Africa hosted the junior edition in 2022.
Samuel believes hosting the tournament will provide Nigerian athletes with a rare opportunity to compete against some of the Commonwealth’s best fencers in front of a home crowd.
“It gives our athletes the chance to showcase their talent and inspire the next generation,” she added.
The federation official expressed confidence that Nigeria has the quality to compete for medals across the foil, épée and sabre events in both the men’s and women’s categories.
According to Samuel, several members of the squad have undergone intensive preparations ahead of the championships.
While acknowledging that some Nigerian fencers will be making their international debuts, she insisted the team is capable of producing surprise results against more experienced opponents.
“We have prepared well and believe our athletes can surprise many teams,” she stated.
The Nigeria Fencing Federation sees the championship as an opportunity to further raise the profile of the sport while inspiring more young Nigerians to take up fencing.
Preparations for the competition are continuing as the host nation aims to deliver a successful tournament and make a strong impression on the piste.
