Folayemi Akinyosoye and teenage épée fencer Adebodunrin Thomas will headline Nigeria’s 13-member team for the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos from August 9 to 14.
Quick facts
- Dates: August 9–14, 2026
- Venue: Rugby School, Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos
- Nigeria’s squad: 13 fencers
- Milestone: First Commonwealth Fencing Championships staged in an African country
National coach Ibrahim Alogba believes Nigeria is in position to win medals, pointing to the squad’s strong international programme during the last 12 months.
He said the fencers had competed at elite events around the world and would draw on that experience in Lagos. Alogba also expects home support to give the hosts an additional advantage in their medal bid.
Akinyosoye, 21, will lead Nigeria’s men’s sabre entries in both the under-23 and senior divisions. The UK-based fencer is ranked 120th globally and reached the last eight at the 2025 African Championships, held in Lagos.
The former British junior competitor’s continental record adds important experience to the Nigerian team. Thomas, 17, is the country’s highest-ranked female épée fencer and is the other leading name in the squad.
Thomas competed at her first international event at the 2025 African Championships. At the 2026 African Senior Championships in Abidjan, she progressed from the pool stage before losing 15-12 to Egypt’s Loulwa Soliman in the elimination rounds.
Her target for the Lagos competition is a place in the last 16, where she hopes to test herself against the leading fencers in the world.
The men’s line-up also includes Chizim Aninyei, Adegbola Babade, Wisdom Okanlawon, Diekolola Johnson, Nabil Oseni, Oghenegaren Esiovwa Thompson, Martins Olabaderinwa and Olagunju Zaafir.
Oluwafiifehanmi Babatunde, Erinle Teniayo and Okpaleke Mekachi complete the women’s selection.
Competition will take place at Rugby School in Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island. The event will be the first staging of the Commonwealth Fencing Championships on African soil.
