16-year-old Inkosi Brou has won Nigeria’s first-ever medal at International Fencing Championships in the Sabre category of the 2024 World Tournoi Satellite Cup in Iceland.
Competing against some of the world’s elite fencers at the Viking Cup
2024, a Senior World Cup Satellite Sabre Tournament, the world’s No. 67
ranked fencer, Inkosi, clinched a silver medal after a hard-fought 9-15
match against Iceland’s Andre Mateev.
As the No. 5 seed, Inkosi began his campaign in the Round of 16,
defeating Germany’s Magnus De Witt 15-9. He continued his winning streak
in the quarterfinals with a close 15-13 victory over Spain’s Oriol
Farre.
In the semifinals, Inkosi faced his biggest hurdle when he faced
No. 1 seed, Cristoher Cortez of Ecuador in a tactical and intense match,
ultimately advancing to the final with a 15-14 win.
Inkosi, the grandson of the late Dora Akinyuli, former NAFDAC Director
General, expressed his excitement and inspiration from his performance,
which fuels his ambition for a spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic
Games.
Inkosi Brou stated:
“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. I’d like to thank Akhi Spencer-El, Daryl Homer, Alex Fotiyev, and
Tom Seitz for their support during the off-season.”
Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation (NFF),
praised Inkosi’s efforts and highlighted the significance of this
achievement for Nigerian fencing.
According to Adeyinka Samuel:
“We are thrilled with the progress in the sport as it aligns with our prediction to medal at the LA 2028 Olympics Games. Inkosi’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 Inkosi
continues to gain experience and recognition globally.”
