By Olamide Abe
The Nigeria Squash Federation has stepped up preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Team Squash Championship scheduled to take place in Ontario, Canada, from July 20 to July 31, with officials expressing optimism about the country’s participation at the global event.
President of the federation, Wilson Egberipou, confirmed that training programmes have been intensified as Nigeria looks to field a competitive squad in one of the sport’s most prestigious junior competitions, organised by the World Squash Federation and featuring some of the best U-19 players from across the world.
Egberipou explained that Nigeria intends to present a balanced team comprising four male and four female players, adding that the selection process is aimed at ensuring equal representation and competitive depth across both categories.
“We have intensified our preparations. It’s a very important championship,” he said as quoted by Sports247.
According to him, participation in the competition will provide Nigerian players with valuable experience against top-level international opposition, which he believes is essential for their long-term growth in the sport.
“These players need global experience. This is part of long-term development as Nigeria’s participation is part of a broader developmental strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s presence in international squash through consistent youth engagement and exposure to elite tournaments,” he added.
The federation president expressed confidence that the championship would play a key role in accelerating the progress of the selected athletes as they compete on the world stage.
“It will help their progress greatly,” he said.
Nigeria’s preparations continue as stakeholders maintain that regular exposure to top-level competition remains crucial for nurturing future champions in the sport.
The World Squash Junior Championships is organised annually by the World Squash Federation and features players aged U-19, with Egypt continuing to dominate recent editions.
Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria is the two-time defending men’s champion, having defeated Korea’s Na Joo-young in 2024 and compatriot Marwan Assal in 2025, while Egypt’s Amina Orfi has been equally dominant in the women’s event, winning four consecutive titles since 2022.
