By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria has begun preparation ahead of the 2023 World Championship scheduled for July 22 to 26, 2023, at the United States of America.
To this end, the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, (NSF) has announced a 26-man list for qualifiers which take place in Sapele, Delta State, South-south Nigeria between January 25 and 27.
The list disclosed publicly by the NSF leadership is dominated by players from various clubs within Nigeria.
The clubs include; Warri Scrabble Club, Benin Scrabble and Yenagoa Scrabble Club.
Warri Scrabble Club has six players, Benin Scrabble Club and Yenagoa Scrabble Club have four players each.
Apex SC, Central Scrabble Club Abuja, Shell Scrabble Club, Surulere SC, Abeokuta Scrabble Club, Unilag SC, Pyramid Scrabble Club of Lagos and Sapele Scrabble Club, are the other Clubs that the players are drawn from, Heritage Times HT reports.
Up to 23 of the 26 players invited for the qualifiers are male while double National Sports Festival gold medalist, Malafakumo Best Akpos, Bukunmi Afolayan and Tuoyo Mayuku are the females that the made the cut.
Former African and World Champion, Wellington Jighere, who is the current national number one player, as well as the highest ranked African in the world at the moment is the biggest name on the roaster.
In 2015, Delta state-born Jighere, became the first African player to win the World Championship crown in Australia.
Four other African Champions, current African Champion, Enoch Nwali, two times African Champion, Dennis Ikekeregor, 2004 African Champion, Nsikak Etim and Wale Fashina who won the African Championship in 1998, will be heading to Sapele for the grueling battle to make Team Nigeria squad to the World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in July.
Other wordsmith called up for the three day qualifiers are; current West African Champion, Eta Karo, Doko Oluwatimilehin, Prince Omosefe, Oshevire Avwengha, who captained Team Nigeria to the last African Scrabble Championship in Lusaka, Champion of Champions, Olatunde Oduwole, Emmanuel Umujose, Emmanuel Ofidi, Cyril Umebiye and Okiemute Tega.
Ben Quickpen, Jimoh Abdulmumin, Ezinore George, Joseph Aniso, Victor Godwin, Hakeem Olaribigbe, David Yuwa, Anthony Odok and Vincent Munanyo complete the 26 man list.
Players on standby are Precious Igali, Jacob Ryan, James Ewruje and Olufemi Gbadebo.
According to the federation, top 20 players in the NSF ranking along with six wild cards that include female players, are part of the list.
At the end of the three-day hostilities, the best ten players will be selected to represent Team Nigeria at the World Championship.
