By VIVIAN AHANMISI

Nigeria’s fencing sensation Inkosi Brou has achieved a groundbreaking milestone, becoming the first Nigerian to be ranked among the top 10 junior fencers in the world.

The latest rankings released by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) place the 18-year-old in 10th position in the Men’s Sabre junior category.

With 68.750 points, Brou is now the second-highest ranked African trailing Egypt’s Ahmed Hesham, who sits in 7th place with 76.000 points.

In spite of a quarterfinal exit at the 2026 African Junior Fencing Championships in Dakar, Brou’s ascent continues, buoyed by his recent sixth place finish at the 2026 FIE World Cup in Dakar, Senegal.

It will be recalled that he won Nigeria’s first-ever global Men’s Sabre fencing medal, a silver at the World Tournoi Satellite Cup in Iceland (2024).

He added a bronze medal at the 2025 African Junior Championships in Luanda, Angola.

Brou, also became the first Nigerian selected for the prestigious All-American Fencing First Team in the United States at 16-years-old and started representing Nigeria on a global stage in October 2023.

His passion for fencing was sparked by the film Pirates of the Caribbean and later inspired by watching American Ibtihaj Muhammad at the 2016 Olympics.

His ultimate ambition is to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where he hopes to become Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic fencer.

Reacting to the achievement, Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, hailed Brou’s ranking as a major boost for the sport’s growth in the country.

“Nigeria is fast finding its feet among elite fencing nations. Brou has been consistent and is a silent achiever who inspires our young fencers.

“His success will positively impact Nigeria’s image in the global fencing community and serve as a role model for others,” Samuel said. (NAN)