Nigeria Targets Four Medals at African Fencing Championship

The Nigeria Fencing Federation has hinted that the country will be aiming for four medals at the forthcoming Junior/Cadet African Fencing Championship billed to hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos from March 1 to 5.

NFF President, Adeyinka Samuel at a media briefing recently said the country will also be fielding a twelve-man team for the championship which will attract no fewer than twenty countries. Five of the nation’s representatives are billed to arrive in batches today.

Samuel, who is also the Secretary General of the African Fencing Federation stated that Nigeria is very proud to be hosting the event stressing it’s a major achievement to beat top fencing country like Algeria and Tunisia to the hosting rights.

“We are targeting four medals and from the perspective that we are an up and coming country in fencing, it will be remarkable if we meet the target,” Samuel, who was once ranked top 100 fencers in the world, said.

Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) scribe, Tunde Popoola commended the federation stressing that the NOC is delighted to note that the fencing federation has a very good relationship with its international body FIE.

The championship serves as an avenue for junior fencers to earn point for the 2018 World Championships in Verona, Italy and will also be used as qualification criteria for the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo, Japan.