A total number of 22 Scrabble players and five officials from Nigeria have arrived in the United States for the 2023 World English Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC). It will hold from July 22 to 26 at Westgate, Las Vegas Resorts & Casino.

According to the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, the national team, which departed aboard Turkish Airline, travelled early for the World event to have enough time to acclimatise to the weather of the host city.

Speaking with The Guardian before the team’s departure, NSF President, Toke Aka, assured Nigerians that the Team would do it’s best to bring back the World Scrabble trophy.

“Team Nigeria’s goal at the WESPAC is to maintain its position as the best Scrabble playing Nation. The team is traveling early to the U.S. because we need to avoid jet lag on players, and also our players will be taking part in some other Scrabble events before the major World Championship begins on July 22. One of this tournaments is the American National Championship billed for July 15 to 17,” he said.

He added: “The series of Championships ahead of the WESPAC will give Nigeria players enough opportunity to prepare well for the main event. About 30 countries will be taking part in the tournament, but with the current top ranking of Nigeria players in Scrabble, I am sure our players will give good account of themselves in the WESPAC. NSF is still pleading with the U.S. embassy to issue visa to one of our major player, Oluwatimilehin Doko. If he eventually gets the American visa before the major championship begins, he will join the team in the U.S.”

Coach of the National Scrabble team, Prince Anthony Ikolo, said that all hands are on deck to ensure Nigeria wins the WESPAC title this year.

“As the defending Champions of the World English Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC), our mission is to go against all odds to retain the World Scrabble title. With the series of competitions within and outside the country, our players have excelled in recent times, and I am sure the Nigeria will give a good account of itself in the U.S.

“Team Nigeria has prepared hard for the World tourney, and we did our best to get the best players for the championship after series of high level competitions and screening process among the top scrabble players across Nigeria,” he said. (The Guardian)