Jimoh’s Late Surge Powers Nigeria to African Scrabble Glory

Posted : 26 October 2026

Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in African Scrabble after Abdulmumin Jimoh staged a remarkable late comeback to win the individual title at the 16th African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia.

Jimoh finished top of the 110-player field with 23 victories and a cumulative spread of 1,760 points, edging compatriot George Ezinore, who recorded the same number of wins but settled for second with 1,005 points.

Emmanuel Umujose secured third place to complete an all-Nigerian podium, while the country also claimed the Best Country award ahead of Kenya and hosts Liberia.

The championship victory followed a determined recovery by Jimoh, who began the four-day tournament in 12th position after recording five wins on the opening day.

He climbed to third on day two before slipping to sixth on day three, leaving him with ground to recover in the closing rounds.

A crucial victory over Larry Etuwa in round 31 strengthened his title ambitions and propelled him towards the top of the standings.

Although Jimoh lost his final game to Ezinore, his superior cumulative spread proved decisive, securing him the continental crown.

The triumph also continued Nigeria’s impressive record in the competition, with Jimoh succeeding his clubmate, Oluwatimilehin Doko, who won the previous edition in Kigali two years ago.

Doko, however, endured a difficult outing in Monrovia after falling ill during the tournament.

Reacting to Nigeria’s achievement, President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Bright Idahosa, praised the players for their determination and commitment throughout the competition.

“I commend our players and the Federation in general for the determination shown throughout this tourney and for flying Nigeria’s flag high on the continental stage. This achievement reflects the talent, commitment and competitive spirit within Nigerian Scrabble,” Idahosa said.

He also acknowledged the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC), particularly its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade.

“I also sincerely appreciate the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for their support.

“The Director-General consistently called to enquire about our results, assess our progress and discuss the way forward. This demonstrates genuine passion and intentional leadership in Nigerian sports,” he added.

In the women’s category, Ghana’s Betty Kyeremateng emerged Best Female Player after winning 20 of her 32 games.

Nigeria’s Sophia Ekeruche finished second with 18 victories, adding another strong performance to her growing reputation after being recognised as the World’s Best Female Junior Player in 2025 and 2026.

Nigeria’s double success in the individual and team standings provides further encouragement for the NSF as it pursues sustained excellence at continental and international competitions.

Jimoh’s Late Surge Powers Nigeria to African Scrabble Glory

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