The Nigerian Fencing Federation has won the hosting rights for the 2018 Junior/Cadet African Fencing Championships slated for 26th of February to the 5th of March 2018.
The event which is to be hosted at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos is described as the first of it’s kind in Nigeria.
In a statement made available to Daily Trust in Lagos by the organisers, the J/C AFC is described as internationally recognized and FIE (Switzerland) approved tournament.
The statement noted that the tournament will provide a platform for fencers across Africa’s 31 registered nations to compete for World Points; leading them to the Olympics, hence the expectation that it would draw in thousands of fencers, delegates and spectators from all other African countries including Nigeria.
“This is the first International fencing tournament in Nigeria. It has been officially endorsed by Lagos State.
“His Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Abode along with several top International (FIE Delegates) and local dignitaries will be present, including the world richest Russian and FIE President (Alisher Usmanov).
“Participating Countries comprise all registered African countries, being a minimum of 150 fencers. Fencing is one of the five sports featured in the Olympics and modern Pentathlon. The tournament is expected to draw in a diverse … of spectators. The Teslim Balogun Stadium being the venue is set to sit a capacity of 3,000 – 4,000 PD fencing spectators”.
