Nigeria’s rising fencing star, Inkosi Brou, has made history by becoming the first Nigerian to break into the top 10 junior fencers globally, according to the latest rankings released by the International Fencing Federation (FIE).
The 18-year-old athlete now holds the 10th position in the Men’s Sabre junior category with 68.750 points, making him the second-highest ranked African after Egypt’s Ahmed Hesham, who sits in seventh place with 76.000 points.
Brou’s remarkable climb comes despite a quarterfinal exit at the 2026 African Junior Fencing Championships in Dakar, Senegal.
His momentum has been strengthened by a sixth-place finish at the 2026 FIE World Cup, also in Dakar, demonstrating consistent performance on the international stage.
Previously, Brou won Nigeria’s first global Men’s Sabre medal, earning silver at the World Tournoi Satellite Cup in Iceland (2024). He also secured bronze at the 2025 African Junior Championships in Luanda, Angola.
At just 16 years old, Brou became the first Nigerian selected for the prestigious All-American Fencing First Team in the United States, marking the start of his global representation of Nigeria in October 2023.
His interest in fencing was sparked by the film Pirates of the Caribbean and later inspired by watching American Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad during the 2016 Olympics.
Brou has stated that his ultimate ambition is to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and 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 in the country.
“Nigeria is steadily emerging among elite fencing nations. Brou has been consistent, a silent achiever, and a role model for young fencers.
His success enhances Nigeria’s image in the global fencing community and inspires the next generation,” Samuel said.
Brou’s breakthrough underscores Nigeria’s growing presence in international fencing, inspiring aspiring athletes and signaling a promising future for the sport in Africa.
