Nigeria has made a groundbreaking achievement by securing the rights to host the 2026 Commonwealth Senior and Veterans Fencing Championships, becoming the first African nation to do so. The Commonwealth Fencing Federation approved Nigeria’s bid with certain conditions to be fulfilled before the tournament.
This milestone follows Nigeria’s successful hosting of the Fencing World Cup last year, making it the first Sub-Saharan African country to host such a prestigious event. The World Cup, held by Charter House Lagos, attracted over 10 countries, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia emerging as dominant forces.
The President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, expressed his excitement, saying, “We competed against Australia, a country that has hosted the Commonwealth Championships three times and is globally recognized for its expertise in fencing. This accomplishment highlights the strength of our bid and Nigeria’s growing stature on the world stage. Over the past 10 months, every aspect of our proposal underwent detailed evaluation, culminating in the final technical visit in December during our successful World Cup event. This will likely be the largest sporting event Nigeria has hosted, with more than 600 athletes expected from over 30 countries.”
“This is a monumental moment for the Nigerian fencing community. Hosting such a prestigious championship enables us to compete alongside the best fencing nations in the Commonwealth. We are excited and motivated to continue the growth and popularization of the sport. Our successful execution of the last World Cup demonstrated our capability to host this tournament. The management of Charter House has committed to providing full support, and we will also seek further private-sector backing to ensure the success of the event. Hosting this tournament will also provide our fencers with the opportunity to compete against the world’s finest as they work towards qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”
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