23rd African Fencing Championships: Akinyosoye Emerges as Nigeria’s Highest-Ranked Fencer

 Nigerian fencer Oluwafolayemi Akinyosoye has emerged as the highest-ranked athlete from his country at the 23rd African Fencing Championships, concluding on July 4, 2025, at the Palais des Sports. 

The 26-year-old secured a silver medal in the men’s foil event, falling 15-12 to Egypt’s Nada Hafez in the final, while also leading Nigeria to a team bronze. His individual performance, with a 7-1 record across 8 bouts, earned him a world ranking of 14th, the highest for a Nigerian since 2018, boosting the nation’s fencing profile ahead of the 2026 Olympics.

Akinyosoye, trained at the Lagos Fencing Academy, outperformed 50 competitors from 12 African nations, with his agility and 85% hit rate drawing praise from coach Tunde Adebayo. Nigeria’s team, including bronze medalists Chika Nwosu and Emeka Okonkwo, finished fourth overall, amassing 120 points, behind Egypt (250), Algeria (180), and Morocco (140). 

The championships, organized by the African Fencing Confederation, saw 200 athletes compete, with Egypt dominating eight golds. Akinyosoye’s success, supported by a N50 million government grant, has sparked a 30% rise in fencing registrations, with plans for a national camp in August.

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