Nigeria secures top Italian coach for 2025 African Fencing Championships

As part of the strategic four-year partnership between the Nigerian
Fencing Federation (NFF) and the Italian Fencing Federation (Federazione
Italiana Scherma, FIS), a top-tier Italian coach will arrive in Lagos
this June to work with the Nigerian team ahead of the 2025 African
Senior Fencing Championships, which will take place from June 25 to 29
in Lagos.
The partnership, signed in December 2024, aims to accelerate the
development of fencing in Nigeria through technical support and
knowledge exchange. The deployment of an elite Italian coach is one of
the key deliverables of this collaboration.
Riccardo Bardine, a highly respected figure in the international fencing
community, will lead a two-week intensive training program for Nigerian
coaches and athletes. Bardine is a certified fencing coach, strength and
conditioning expert, and Paralympic sports specialist. He studied Sport
Science and completed his fencing education at the prestigious Club
Scherma Pisa Antonio Di Ciolo—one of the world’s most renowned fencing
institutions.
Bardine brings a wealth of experience, having coached at elite clubs
such as Circolo Scherma La Spezia and Club Scherma Rapallo. He has also
served on the coaching staff of Italy’s U17 National Épée Team and has
trained top-level athletes in both foil and épée disciplines.
As a former athlete, Bardine boasts an impressive résumé: a bronze medal
at the Italian U23 Foil Championships, a silver at the National Team
Championships (B Series, promoted to A Series), and two selections for
the Junior National Épée Team at World Cups. He is also a certified
Olympic weightlifting coach and specializes in physical preparation for
both able-bodied and Paralympic athletes.
Beyond the training camp, Bardine will lead the technical crew of Team
Nigeria during the African Championships in Lagos.
President of the Nigerian Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, expressed
his excitement about the development, emphasizing the federation’s
commitment to growing the sport and enhancing the capacity of both
athletes and coaches.
“This is one of the many benefits of our international partnership with
a top fencing nation. Bringing a coach of Bardine’s caliber to Nigeria
is not only cost-effective but also impactful, as it allows our coaches
and athletes, both local and foreign-based, to learn directly from a
world-class expert,” Samuel said.
“We remain committed to seeking more support from both the private and
public sectors as we work toward our ultimate goal: qualifying for the
2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” Samuel said.