Fencing: Brou wins Nigeria’s first medal, eyes 2028 Olympics

Nigeria made a remarkable entry on the global fencing scene during the weekend, thanks to the impressive performance of 16-year-old Inkosi Brou, who won the country’s first-ever medal in the sabre category at the World Tournoi Satellite Cup in Iceland.

The world No. 67-ranked fencer clinched a silver medal after a hard-fought 9-15 victory against Iceland’s Andre Mateev.

Seeded No. 5 for the event, Brou began his campaign in the round of 16, defeating Germany’s Magnus De Witt 15-9.

He continued his winning streak in the quarterfinals with a slim 15-13 win over Spain’s Oriol Farre before facing his biggest hurdle in the semi-finals against No. 1 seed, Cristoher Cortez of Ecuador, in a tactical and intense match, ultimately advancing to the final with a 15-14 win.

Inkosi, the grandson of the former NAFDAC Director-General, late Dora Akunyili, expressed his excitement and inspiration for his performance, which fuels his ambition for a spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

“Starting the fencing season with a silver medal at one of my first senior FIE competitions is a great achievement. I am proud to represent Nigeria at this elite competition and continue my quest for a spot at LA 2028,” he told Nigeria Fencing Media.

“I’d like to thank Akhi Spencer-El, Daryl Homer, Alex Fotiyev, and Tom Seitz for their support during the off-season,” Brou added.

President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, described Inkosi’s feat as a significant achievement for Nigerian fencing.

“We are thrilled with the progress in the sport as it aligns with our prediction to medal at the LA 2028 Olympics Games. Brou’s success motivates us to work harder towards having a Nigerian team well-represented at the 2028 Olympic Games. This first medal in an FIE event is truly inspiring, and we hope Brou continues to gain experience and recognition globally,” Samuel stated.