2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships Launch in Lagos

The 2026 Commonwealth Federation Fencing Championships officially began in Lagos, Nigeria, marking a historic moment as it is the first time the Senior Championships are hosted on African soil. The event, taking place at Rugby School Nigeria in Atlantic City, Victoria Island, features delegations from 20 nations and will run for six days.

Marie-France Dufour, President of the Commonwealth Fencing Federation, praised Nigeria's preparations and the enthusiasm of its athletes, noting that Nigeria surpassed Australia to secure hosting rights. Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, described the tournament as a fulfillment of a long-held dream, emphasizing the opportunity for Nigerian athletes to gain experience against top competitors.

Local Organising Committee member Olaitan Ogunbiyi expressed confidence in a smooth tournament. Nigerian fencers Folayemi Akinyosoye and Adebodunrin Thomas expressed their determination to perform well, with Thomas aiming to improve upon her recent World Championships performance.

The championships will include Senior, U-23, Veteran, and Wheelchair categories, with the latter two making their debut.