Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer, Inkosi Brou, will spearhead the country’s six-man squad to the 2025 World Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships, set to take place in Wuxi, China, from today, April 7, through to April 15.
Brou, who is also a World Tournoi Satellite Cup silver medallist, is Nigeria’s most accomplished fencer and one of the country’s top sports ambassadors. He is aiming to improve his global ranking ahead of the 2025 African Senior Championships, which will be held in Lagos this June.
In his bid for success in the championships, Brou set his sights on making the top 16 in the Junior Men’s Sabre individual event. He is also hoping to surpass his performance at last year’s Junior/Cadet World Championships in Saudi Arabia. “My target is to make the top 16 and improve my junior FIE ranking. I will aim to perform better than I did last year,” Brou said.
Among the promising fencers accompanying Brou are the Idongesit siblings — 18-year-old Mahathir, 14-year-old Mahadi, and 13-year-old Sara. Mahathir, who is making his international debut, has set a goal of finishing in the top eight at his first World Junior Championship. “My target is to make it to the top eight. I also hope to give my best no matter the outcome,” he said.
Mahadi, 14, is determined to bring home a podium finish. “My goal is to get on the podium and finish among the top three. I will give it my all to achieve this,” Mahadi said, expressing his commitment to making an impact in China.
Sara, the youngest of the Idongesit trio, is aiming for a top-16 finish while seeing this championship as an opportunity for growth. “I hope to reach the top 16 and give everything I have. This is a valuable chance for me to learn and improve,” she said.
Joining the Idongesit siblings is US-based Peluola Akinbamiro, 13, who recently participated in the African Junior Championships in Angola. Although her ambitions are modest, she remains hopeful of making it to the top eight or higher. “I hope to make it to the top eight or better, and I trust that everything will go smoothly,” Akinbamiro noted.
The Nigerian team will face stiff competition, with other African countries like Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, South Africa, Togo, and Tunisia also participating in the tournament. The championships will provide a platform for these young fencers to showcase their talents and further develop their skills in the international arena.
Team Nigeria remains hopeful as they aim to make their mark on the world stage.