Samuel's Silver Caps Historic Commonwealth Fencing Campaign for Nigeria

Posted : 14 August 2026

Adeyinka Samuel has added a historic chapter to Nigeria's fencing story after winning silver in the men's veteran sabre at the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Lagos. The Nigeria Fencing Federation president returned to competitive action after a 13-year absence and helped the hosts produce a landmark performance.

Samuel's medal came at Rugby School Nigeria, where the six-day championships brought together fencers from across the Commonwealth. The 2026 event was the first Commonwealth Senior and Veteran Fencing Championships to be staged in Africa, giving Nigeria an important opportunity to showcase the sport on home soil.

The federation president produced an impressive return to the piste. He won three of his four bouts against opponents from Wales, Australia and Nigeria, with his only defeat coming against Wales' Oliver Massey, who went on to claim the veteran sabre gold medal.

Samuel's silver was especially significant because it marked his first Commonwealth medal after previous appearances in 2006 and 2010 ended without a podium finish. His return therefore combined a personal milestone with a major moment for Nigerian fencing.

The medal also capped Nigeria's impressive showing at the championships. The hosts finished third on the overall medal table with one gold, three silver and 13 bronze medals, placing Nigeria ahead of the other African nations in the competition.

India dominated the medal standings, while England finished second. Nigeria's overall haul reflected the progress made by the country's fencers across different age groups and weapons during the championships.

Samuel said the achievement was particularly rewarding after his previous Commonwealth experiences. He also praised the younger Nigerian fencers and called for greater investment to help the sport build on its recent progress.

The Lagos championships were officially scheduled for August 9 to 14 and featured senior and veteran competitions, alongside U23 events. The Commonwealth Fencing Federation confirmed Lagos as the host city after awarding the championships to the Nigeria Fencing Federation.

The competition also introduced wheelchair fencing as an official medal event, while U23 individual events were included in the programme. These additions expanded the championship's competitive pathway and gave more athletes an opportunity to compete at Commonwealth level.

Beyond his performance as a fencer, Samuel has wider ambitions for the sport. He was recently elected president of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation and has identified the return of fencing to the Commonwealth Games programme as a key priority.

Fencing was previously part of the Commonwealth Games from 1950 to 1970 but has since been contested through separate Commonwealth championships. The federation continues to work towards strengthening the sport's position within the wider Commonwealth sporting movement.

Samuel's silver medal therefore carries significance beyond the veteran sabre podium. It provides a fitting personal highlight to Nigeria's strongest Commonwealth fencing campaign and strengthens the country's case for greater attention, investment and international competition.

Samuel's Silver Caps Historic Commonwealth Fencing Campaign for Nigeria

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