Nigeria sweeps podium at 16th Pan-African Scrabble Championship

Nigeria secured the top three positions at the 16th Pan-African Scrabble Championship held in Monrovia, Liberia. Abdulmumin Jimoh claimed the continental title and a US$7,000 prize after finishing the 32-round tournament with 23 wins and a cumulative spread of plus 1,760.

Fellow Nigerian George Ezinore finished in second place with an identical 23-9 record but a lower spread of plus 1,005, earning US$4,500. Emmanuel Umujose completed the Nigerian podium sweep in third place with a 21-11 record and a plus 1,489 spread, collecting US$3,500.

The tournament featured 110 players from seven countries: Liberia, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Kenya. While Nigeria dominated the podium, Kenya’s Gitonga Nderitu finished fourth. The event also saw the withdrawal of defending champion Oluwatimilehin Doko due to sudden illness after 17 rounds of play.