Nigeria’s Fencing Boss Samuel Makes History With Veteran Silver, Hosts Nation Finishes Third Overall

Nigeria’s fencing story reached new heights in Lagos as Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation and newly elected head of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation (CFC), claimed a historic silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships.

Already celebrated as the first African to lead the CFC, Samuel returned to competition after 13 years, stepping back onto the piste in full regalia to contest the men’s sabre veteran category. Facing rivals from Wales, Australia, and Nigeria, he rekindled his competitive spirit with grit and precision.

Samuel overcame three of his four opponents, including compatriot Tonye Sawari, with his only defeat coming against eventual champion Oliver Massey of Wales. The performance earned him his first-ever fencing medal — a silver — and marked a landmark achievement for Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Fencing Boss Samuel Makes History With Veteran Silver, Hosts Nation Finishes Third Overall

Reflecting on his triumph, Samuel said: “I am so happy. I featured in two Commonwealth Championships in 2006 and 2010 in Australia and narrowly missed out on medals, but to finally win one as a veteran is a joy I will cherish for a long time. This shows that with determination nothing is impossible.” He added that Nigeria’s overall performance, including medals won by young fencers and wheelchair athletes, proves fencing is a serious sport the country must embrace as an Olympic discipline.

As CFC President, Samuel’s next priority is to push for fencing’s reinstatement at the Commonwealth Games and deepen collaboration between the International Fencing Federation (FIE) and the CFC to elevate the sport across Africa.

Meanwhile, India reaffirmed its dominance, topping the medal table with 20 gold, 17 silver, and 16 bronze medals. England followed with three golds, while host nation Nigeria finished third overall — its best international performance to date — with one gold, three silver, and 13 bronze medals, making it the top-performing African team among the 20 nations represented.

Nigeria’s Fencing Boss Samuel Makes History With Veteran Silver, Hosts Nation Finishes Third Overall

Wales and Cyprus each secured one gold medal, with Wales edging into fourth place thanks to an additional bronze. Australia, South Africa, and Northern Ireland also featured on the medal table, with Australia collecting two silver and four bronze, South Africa two silver and one bronze, and Northern Ireland one bronze.

The six-day tournament, hosted at Rugby School Nigeria in Atlantic City, Victoria Island, concludes on Friday, August 14, with a closing ceremony blending fencing and culture — a fitting finale to a championship that has elevated the sport’s profile across the Commonwealth and showcased Lagos as a world-class sporting destination.

Written by Boom RadioNG