Nigeria's wheelchair fencers make history as Commonwealth Championships yield six medals
Nigeria’s wheelchair fencers have etched their names into African sporting history, winning five medals as wheelchair fencing made its continental debut at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos.
The feat formed part of Nigeria’s six-medal haul at the championships, with the wheelchair fencing events staged for the first time on African soil at Rugby School Nigeria, Atlantic City.
In the women’s epee Category A, Itunu Kumuyi and Joy Iorguma both secured bronze after advancing to the semi-finals, where they were stopped by opponents from India.
Nigeria added two more bronze medals in Category B, courtesy of Joyce Otun and Abiola Rahamon, while Chidinma Dennis completed the wheelchair fencing medal haul with silver after finishing runner-up to India’s Sheranthi Thomas in the final.
The historic performance has provided an encouraging start for Nigeria’s developing wheelchair fencing programme, which only began training athletes three months ago.
Tonye Sawari, Programme Director of Wheelchair Fencing at the Nigeria Fencing Federation, described the achievement as a major milestone.
“You cannot imagine that we started training just three months ago, yet our athletes quickly became competitive against countries with years of international experience,” Sawari said.
“This is a remarkable beginning, and we hope to build on this success to raise the profile of wheelchair fencing in Nigeria. I am proud of our athletes for making their presence felt in this tournament and commend them for their spirited display.”
Nigeria’s sixth medal came in the men’s senior sabre, where Oluwafolayemi Akinyosoye fought his way to bronze.
Akinyosoye, Nigeria’s highest-ranked competitor in the event, advanced from Pool 2 before producing an impressive run in the elimination rounds.
He defeated England’s Charles Gellett 15–6 in the last 16 and followed it up with a hard-fought 15–12 victory over India’s Bebit Bright in the quarter-finals.
Despite picking up an early hand injury, Akinyosoye continued his challenge into the semi-finals, where Australia’s Yoongi Shim ended his run with a 15–10 victory, leaving the Nigerian with a well-earned bronze.
His medal adds to Oghenegaren Esiovwa-Thompson’s gold in the men’s U-23 épée, taking Nigeria’s overall medal count at the championships to six.
For Nigeria, however, the standout story remains the wheelchair fencers, whose historic podium finishes have marked the beginning of what could become a significant chapter for the sport in Africa.
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