Nigeria’s most decorated young fencer, 18-year-old Inkosi Brou, will spearhead the nation’s four-man contingent to the 2026 African Junior Fencing Championships in Dakar, Senegal, scheduled for February 16–20.
Brou, the grandson of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of NAFDAC, has already etched his name in history as Nigeria’s first global fencing medallist, winning silver at the World Tournoi Satellite Cup in 2024.
Ranked among Africa’s top junior fencers and currently 13th in the world in men’s sabre, Brou also claimed bronze at the 2025 African Junior Championships and is widely regarded as a strong contender for Olympic qualification ahead of Los Angeles 2028.
Joining him in Dakar are Mahathir Idongesit (men’s épée), Sara Idongesit (women’s épée), and Adebodunrin Thomas (women’s épée).
The quartet will compete in both individual and team events. Brou will contest the men’s sabre events, while Mahathir will compete in the men’s épée category. Sara and Thomas will represent Nigeria in the women’s épée individual and team events.
National coach Ibrahim Alogba expressed optimism about the team’s prospects, noting that the tournament will serve as vital preparation for the Commonwealth Championships in Lagos this August.
“We are excited that our fencers will have the chance to compete with the best juniors in Africa. We aim to surpass last year’s bronze medal finish in Angola. With the global exposure gained from recent competitions, including the Fencing World Cup in Egypt, we believe our athletes are better prepared to deliver strong performances,” Alogba said.
The Dakar championships will feature top African fencing nations, including Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, and Kenya, promising a highly competitive showcase of the continent’s rising talent.
