Joel Ajayi
Nigeria’s Scrabble team recorded another outstanding international outing following a series of impressive performances at the prestigious Causeway Scrabble Challenge held in Bangkok, Thailand, held from May 29 to June 1, 2026.
Competing against some of the world’s finest scrabble players in what is widely regarded as the biggest and most competitive scrabble tournament globally, Team Nigeria once again demonstrated why the country remains the leading force in the sport.
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, commended the athletes for their fighting spirit and professionalism.
“This performance once again confirms Nigeria’s status as the world’s leading scrabble nation. Our players have shown tremendous character, resilience, and excellence in one of the toughest scrabble competitions anywhere in the world. We are proud of their achievements and remain committed to supporting them as they continue to fly the nation’s flag high on the international stage.”
Nigeria’s standout performances included Olaribigbe Hakeem, who emerged as the First Runner-Up in Division One after recording an impressive 24 wins and 12 losses from 36 games, finishing with a remarkable cumulative spread of +1355 points.
In Division Three, Mbonu Olachi delivered a dominant performance to emerge champion, recording 27 wins and 9 losses from 36 games and finishing with an outstanding spread of +2141 points.
The tournament attracted over 440 participants from more than 30 countries, underscoring its status as one of the most fiercely contested scrabble events in the world. Nigeria was represented by a contingent of 31 persons comprising 26 athletes and five officials.
The Nigerian team featured some of the sport’s most accomplished players, including reigning African Champion Temileyin Doko, current National Champion Ezinore George, and Nigeria’s highest-rated scrabble player, Jimoh Abdulmumuni.
In line with efforts to deepen grassroots development and secure the future of the sport, Nigeria also fielded young players in the junior category as part of the international exposure programme under the pilot Scrabble-to-Schools Initiative.
Despite facing visa-related challenges which affected preparations and saw members of the team proceed almost directly into competition upon arrival, the athletes displayed exceptional resilience and determination. Having lost valuable preparation time and missed opportunities to settle into the tournament environment, Team Nigeria fought back admirably to secure podium finishes and maintain the country’s reputation as a global scrabble powerhouse.
Nigeria entered the tournament as the reigning World Scrabble Champion nation following its historic triumph at the World Scrabble Championships in Accra last year. The latest performance in Bangkok further reinforces the country’s position as both Africa’s and the world’s foremost scrabble-playing nation.
With attention now turning to the African Scrabble Championships scheduled for October and the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Kenya this September, Team Nigeria remains focused on defending its continental and global titles while continuing to inspire a new generation of champions.
The National Sports Commission congratulates the athletes, officials, the Nigeria Scrabble Federation, and all stakeholders whose dedication continues to sustain Nigeria’s dominance in the sport.
