Team Nigeria athletes have expressed confidence in their readiness to win medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships scheduled to take place in Lagos from Aug. 9 to Aug. 14.
Athletes and officials shared their expectations in separate interviews in Lagos on Tuesday ahead of the competition.
Among those expected to lead Nigeria’s campaign are Adebodunri Thomas and Alex Chizim Aninyei, both of whom represented the country at the 2025 African Fencing Championships.
Thomas, Nigeria’s highest-ranked female épée fencer, acknowledged that the competition would be tougher than previous tournaments but expressed optimism about her chances.
“I have very high expectations and I think it is going to be really challenging. This will not be like the African Championships.
“I hope to reach the last 16 again, as I did at the Junior African Championships. More importantly, fencing against some of the world’s top athletes is a great opportunity.
“I have trained every day since returning from school, working with my coach on new techniques, and I am eager to put them into practice,” she said.
Aninyei described the championship as a valuable opportunity to compete against elite fencers and gain more international experience.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to represent Nigeria. I look forward to competing against different fencers from around the world, gaining experience and testing the skills I have developed over the years.
“My goal is to qualify from the pool stage, reach the direct elimination rounds and, of course, win a medal,” he said.
National coach Ibrahim Alogba said the team was well prepared and capable of delivering a strong performance at the championship.
“We are very ready, and we still have time to prepare further. The Commonwealth Championships are no small event, but our team is stronger now and more united than before.
“With the chemistry we have built and the exposure we have gained from world-class tournaments, I believe we can win medals for Nigeria,” Alogba said.
The championship will provide Team Nigeria with another opportunity to measure its progress against some of the best fencers from Commonwealth countries while enjoying home support in Lagos.
