President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has written a new chapter in Nigerian sporting history, becoming the first Nigerian sabre fencer to win a medal at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships.
A former fencer turned administrator, Samuel returned to the piste after 13 years, competing in the men’s sabre veteran category. He faced seasoned rivals from Wales, Australia, and Nigeria, rekindling the spirit of his competitive days with grit and precision.
Samuel overcame three of his four opponents, including compatriot Tonye Sawari, with his only defeat coming against eventual champion Oliver Massey of Wales. That performance earned him a silver medal—the first of his fencing career and a landmark achievement for Nigeria.
He is also the newly elected head of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation.
Reflecting on his triumph, Samuel said, “I am so happy. I featured in two Commonwealth Championships 2006 and 2010 in Australia and narrowly missed out on medals, but to finally win one as a veteran is a joy I will cherish for a long time.
