Commonwealth Fencing Championships: Nigeria’s Historic Gold Headlines Fourth-Place Finish

Posted : 15 August 2026

Nigeria rounded off the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos with a historic gold medal and 24 medals overall, finishing fourth on the medal table.

Oghenegaren Esiovwa-Thompson provided the highlight for the hosts after becoming the first Nigerian to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships.

Nigeria’s final haul comprised one gold, five silver and 18 bronze medals, giving the country the second-highest overall medal tally across all categories despite finishing fourth in the standings.

India emerged as the dominant force at the week-long championships held at Rugby School Nigeria, Eko Atlantic, winning 25 gold, 20 silver and 18 bronze medals for a total of 63 medals.

England finished second with three gold, two silver and nine bronze medals, while Wales occupied third position with two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

President of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, described the successful staging of the championships as a major achievement after more than a year of planning.

“It’s been a great event. I’m really happy. We started, we ended. We were planning for this for over a year,” Samuel said.

He acknowledged the challenges involved in hosting such a complex competition but praised the organising team for resolving them and ensuring a successful championship.

Samuel also highlighted the wheelchair fencing academy held ahead of the championships, describing it as an important initiative for developing the sport in Nigeria and across Africa.

The programme was organised in partnership with World Abilitysport and involved certified referees and coaches from Nigeria and other African countries.

For Samuel, the championships carried additional personal significance following his election as President of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation on August 8 and his return to competitive fencing after a long absence.

The former Nigerian international, who last competed competitively in Italy in 2012, won a silver medal at the championships.

“I’m very happy, very grateful. I won a silver medal, so that’s also very good. I’m happy, although I woke up with a lot of pains, but I’m happy and excited,” he said.

Samuel, a former highly ranked fencer in Britain, said his passion for the sport remained undiminished despite his administrative responsibilities.

He explained that his return to Nigeria had also motivated him to invest more heavily in fencing development after observing the limited number of active fencers in the country.

Looking ahead, Samuel pledged to use his new position to unite the Commonwealth’s 40 registered fencing countries, promote the development of the sport and strengthen cooperation among member nations.

He commended the Lagos State Government, National Sports Commission, sponsors, Rugby School Nigeria, participating countries, officials, volunteers and the media for contributing to the success of the championships.

He particularly appreciated the participation of African teams, including South Africa, as well as strong delegations from India, Australia and other Commonwealth nations.

Samuel also praised the media team for its role in promoting the competition and thanked NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade and the Lagos State Government for their support.

With Nigeria’s historic gold, strong overall medal haul and successful hosting of the championships, Samuel expressed optimism that the event would leave a lasting impact on the growth of fencing in the country and across Africa.

He formally declared the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships closed, urging participants to remain connected to what he described as a close-knit global fencing family.

Commonwealth Fencing Championships: Nigeria’s Historic Gold Headlines Fourth-Place Finish

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