Adeyinka Samuel calls for Nigeria to build Olympic-level fencing

Adeyinka Samuel has urged Nigeria’s sports authorities and stakeholders to give fencing greater backing so the country can produce athletes capable of competing at the Olympic Games. The call follows his silver medal at the Commonwealth Fencing Championship after returning to competition 13 years after his previous appearance.

Samuel, president of the Fencing Federation of Nigeria, competed in the men’s veteran sabre category at the championship hosted in Nigeria. He had previously taken part in the 2006 and 2010 editions in Australia, but did not win a medal on either occasion.

The administrator defeated three opponents on his way to the final, including fellow Nigerian Tonye Sawari. He then lost to Wales’ Oliver Massey, who claimed the title, while Samuel became the first Nigerian sabre fencer to win a medal at the Commonwealth championship.

Samuel’s performance came during a tournament in which Nigerian fencers collected several medals. He also highlighted the efforts of the country’s young fencers and wheelchair athletes as evidence that the discipline has a wider base than its current level of support suggests.

The former competitor, who was recently elected president of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, described the championship as the best one hosted so far. He said his next administrative priority was to work towards fencing returning to the Commonwealth Games.

Samuel also pointed to closer cooperation between the International Fencing Federation and the Commonwealth Fencing Federation as part of the sport’s development. For Nigeria, he said, sustained attention from officials and other stakeholders is needed to turn promising performances at domestic and Commonwealth level into Olympic representation.