Inkosi Brou Wins Nigeria’s First Global Fencing Medal In Iceland

Nigeria made a historic breakthrough on the global fencing stage this weekend, with 16-year-old Inkosi Brou securing the nation’s first-ever medal in the sabre category at the World Tournoi Satellite Cup in Iceland.

Ranked 67th in the world, Brou claimed a silver medal after a closely contested 9-15 defeat to Iceland’s Andre Mateev in the final.

Starting the event as the No. 5 seed, Brou launched his campaign in the round of 16 by defeating Germany’s Magnus De Witt 15-9. He continued his impressive run with a narrow 15-13 victory over Spain’s Oriol Farre in the quarterfinals.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• School Proprietress Allegedly Killed, Burnt By Son In Delta
• Man Detained for Allegedly Killing Mother, Mutilating Son in Abia
• Fubara Regains Freedom After 11 Days in Captivity

Brou then faced his toughest challenge in the semifinals against top-seeded Cristoher Cortez of Ecuador, edging out a thrilling 15-14 win to reach the final.

The young fencer, who is the grandson of the late Dora Akunyili, former NAFDAC Director-General, expressed his excitement after the competition.

Brou said his performance has ignited his ambition to represent Nigeria 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.

FURTHER READING

• Poverty, Hardship: Nigerians Turn To Organ Selling Amid Crisis
• Petrol Price Hike Pushing Nigerians To Breaking Point – NLC, Atiku
• No Mass Resignation Of Soldiers Due To Corruption, Low Morale -Nigerian Army

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.

Click here to watch our video of the week: