Nigeria is set to make history as the first Men’s Junior Epee World Cup in Sub-Saharan Africa begins on Saturday, December 14, at Charterhouse Lagos.

This landmark event, sanctioned by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), will feature teams from Benin Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Oman, and host Nigeria.

A total of 34 fencers will compete for honours in the individual events, with world ranking points at stake.

This two-day tournament marks the first international event hosted by the iconic Charterhouse Lagos building.

Top officials from the FIE and Commonwealth Fencing Federation will be present to oversee the competition.

Nigeria is also vying to host the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in 2026.

Coach Ibrahim Alogba has expressed confidence in the Nigerian team, led by Wisdom Okanlawon, as they prepare to challenge their international counterparts.

All eyes will be on Egypt’s Eslam Osama, the tournament’s top seed. The Egyptian team boasts three top seeds, including Youssef Shamel and Mahmoud Elsayed, ranked second and third respectively.

Other top contenders include Hong Kong’s Kenton Jia Hsu and Greece’s Artemios Tzovanis.

The excitement surrounding the event underscores its significance to the Nigeria Fencing Federation, led by Adeyinka Samuel.

“Our athletes used to travel abroad for major competitions to earn ranking points. Now, with this event in Nigeria, they can save costs and gain points ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers.

“We are thrilled that months of preparation will culminate in this historic tournament on December 14. It signifies our growth in African fencing,” Samuel stated.

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Oman and Kenya are the latest teams to join the list of participating countries for the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup, scheduled for December 14-15 at Charterhouse Lagos.

The Asian contingent registered at the last minute for the first Fencing World Cup to be staged in Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to improve their world ranking at the International Fencing Federation (FIE)-sanctioned tournament. Oman will be represented by Al Harith Salim, who will be accompanied by his coach.

Kenya is coming to Lagos with a 12-man team as part of their build-up to the 2025 Africa Cup, also taking place in Lagos.

The East African nation, which is rapidly gaining ground in the sport, joins the likes of Benin Republic, Togo, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and host Nigeria. The Saudi Arabian team, led by Hassan Abed, will have a
four-man squad.

Additionally, a strong eight-man team from Egypt, the top African fencing nation, is expected to arrive in Lagos this week to affirm their supremacy as the best-ranked team in the competition.

For America-based fencing world champion Mahmoud Elsayed of Egypt, the
tournament is crucial for his world ranking and securing his place in the Egyptian team. “The competition is crucial to both my world ranking and my position with the Egyptian national fencing team,” he said.

All is set for Charterhouse to host its first international sports tournament. The Nigeria Fencing Federation hopes to use the event to ignite a passion for fencing among young people across the country.

Adeyinka Samuel of the Nigeria Fencing Federation stated, “We are poised to host the world this week as months of preparation will be put to the test with the staging of the first World Cup in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“We hope this will ignite more interest in the sport and attract more well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies. We are excited about the quality of athletes coming to Lagos and hope our athletes compete favourably against top fencers, especially from Egypt and Hong Kong.”

The victorious Egyptian team from the 2022 Cadet and Junior African Fencing Championship will form the core of the contingent returning to Lagos for the 2024 Men’s Junior Epee Fencing World Cup from December 14 to 15.

Led by the talented Eslam Osama, the team aims to secure world-ranking points at this International Fencing Federation (FIE)-certified tournament.

The two-day event will be held at the Charterhouse in Lagos, featuring teams from Hong Kong, Benin Republic, Greece, Togo, Senegal, Ghana, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and host Nigeria.

This marks the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa with hosting rights for the World Cup.
World cadet silver medallist Osama, ranked No. 11 in the junior category, will spearhead the Egyptian challenge.

He will be joined by Youssef Shamel, ranked No. 13, and Mahmoud Elsayed, ranked No. 14. This experienced eight-man Egyptian contingent is eager to use the World Cup to amass ranking points and improve their standings ahead of the 2025 tournaments.

Hong Kong’s teenage sensation Kenton Jia Hsu ranked No. 18 in the world, will lead the four-man Asian team in their quest for ranking points and titles.

The participating teams are expected to arrive in Lagos this week for the weekend’s tournament.

All eyes will be on local favourite Wisdom Okanlawon, a former African cadet champion. Okanlawon will lead the Nigerian team, which includes Shemilore Fashola, Olumuyiwa Ige, Bade Martins, Kiibaati Opasanya, and the Idongesit siblings, Mahadi and Mahathir.

A determined Okanlawon expressed his readiness to lead Nigeria to a podium finish at home. “It won’t be easy, but we will do our best to make our country proud against our visitors. We hope to mount the podium in all events as a team,” the teenage star said.

Meanwhile, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) has named its Vice President, Donald Anthony of the United States, as the supervisor for the World Cup.

Additionally, Peter Smith, chairman of the Technical Committee of the Commonwealth Fencing Board, will be in Nigeria to assess the country’s readiness to host a Commonwealth Championship in 2025.