Team Ogun triumphs at 2025 National Scrabble Festival in Benin
The Ogun State Scrabble Team has secured the state title at the 2025 Asaph Zadok National Scrabble Festival, achieving the lowest Mean Rank of 12.33 points.
This accomplished team, which includes the current African champion Oluwatimilehin Doko, Samuel Adebola, Jimoh Abdulmumin, Tunde Saporu, Bukunmi Afolayan, and former national captain Cyril Umebiye, demonstrated remarkable teamwork and strategic prowess to reach the top.
Samuel Adebola's outstanding performance significantly contributed to Team Ogun's success, as he won 18 out of 28 matches on both the number and word boards in Benin, Edo State.
The teams from Lagos (16:43), Edo (21:17), FCT Abuja (20:50), Oyo (21:50), and Rivers States (22:50) followed in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th places, respectively.
Adekoyejo Adegbesan, Chairman of the Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA), expressed his satisfaction with the team's achievements in a statement released by Media Officer Tayo Ogunseye. He emphasized the significance of the players' rigorous training and preparation, especially with the upcoming National Sports Festival in May.
"This is yet another impressive result from our team, which certainly required considerable effort," he acknowledged.
"Winning the state category of the Asaph Zadok National Championship serves as a powerful reminder that investment, planning, training, and motivation, combined with the right team, can yield the desired results."
Adegbesan extended gratitude for the collaboration with Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, the Commissioner for Sports Development, and the Ogun State Government for their support, while also expressing the need for additional funding to enhance preparations as they enter closed camping for the National Sports Festival, which they will host next month.
"Congratulations to Team Ogun for raising the bar once again," concluded Adegbesan, who also serves as President of the Scrabble continental body, PANASA.
In the individual competition, George Ezinore from Edo State claimed the title and was awarded the prestigious "Green Jacket."
