NSF hail NSC support after African Scrabble triumph

The Nigeria Scrabble Federation has praised the National Sports Commission for supporting the national team to retain its African title, while calling on corporate organisations to invest in the sport.

The Nigerian contingent returned home on Monday after winning the 16th African Scrabble Championship in Monrovia, Liberia, where the country secured the Best Country award and Abdulmumin Jimoh emerged individual champion.

Nigeria also recorded an all-Nigerian podium finish, with George Ezinore placing second and Emmanuel Umujose finishing third in the competition.

Speaking after the team’s return, NSF President Bright Idahosa credited the commission’s intervention, alongside the federation’s efforts, for helping the players deliver another continental title.

He said the federation had continued to invest time and energy in promoting Nigerian Scrabble internationally, adding that government support and corporate sponsorship would help sustain the country’s dominance.

“We have a team that is working. You see the number of people who went to represent the country. All the tickets were bought by the NSC,” Idahosa said.

He noted that the commission’s support, combined with contributions from the private sector, could provide a model for further development of the sport.

“When there is a government angle working with the federation, plus the corporate side, it will work. The only issue we have in our struggle is not getting the corporate end to it,” he said.

Idahosa urged Nigerians and corporate organisations to support young players, highlighting the performance of 15-year-old Sophia Ekeruche, who represented the country at the championship.

According to him, developing talents from school competitions and supporting their progression to elite level would help Nigeria sustain its success.

Ekeruche finished second in the women’s standings with 18 victories, while Ghana’s Betty Kyeremateng claimed the Best Female Player award with 20 wins from 32 games.

Jimoh, meanwhile, said the team had intensified its preparations ahead of the championship, despite travelling directly from camp to Liberia.

“The coach has made sure that we stay in our best shape for the tournament, and that is exactly why we came home with the trophies,” he said.

He identified Kenya as Nigeria’s strongest rival on the continent, but expressed confidence in the country’s continued strength in the sport.

National team coach Prince Sir Anthony Colum also commended the government for its support, saying the players travelled with less stress than they had experienced on previous occasions.

He said the team’s preparations, including efforts to address weaknesses and improve the players’ performances, contributed to the achievement.

Colum also praised Ekeruche’s contribution, describing her as a promising talent whose development began at the youth games. He said she was deployed as a joker during the championship and helped pave the way for the senior players.

The coach added that the team would continue working to improve, while the federation’s leadership expressed hopes of developing more young players capable of competing successfully on the international stage.

Nigeria’s latest triumph further underlined its dominance of African Scrabble, with the country winning the continental title for the 15th time in 16 editions.