By Ado Salisu
Nigeria’s search for its representatives at the 2026 World Youth Scrabble Championship begins this weekend as the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) stages its national qualifying tournament on the Woogles online platform.
The two-day qualifiers will be held on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, with players competing in monitored online matches to earn places in the national team.
National Youth Coach, Hassan Olojoku Abdulrafiu, said the National Technical Director, Adedeji Khaleel, will provide detailed guidelines for the qualifying exercise before the competition begins.
He urged all eligible participants to familiarize themselves with the Woogles platform to ensure a seamless competition, while calling on coaches and chaperones to provide a conducive environment for their players throughout the online event.
The qualifiers will determine the four players who will represent Nigeria in the team event at the World Youth Scrabble Championship, scheduled to hold in Nairobi, Kenya. Participation at the global tournament will be self-sponsored.
Nigeria is also expected to field two Under-10 players as part of its allocation for the championship. With about four eligible U-10 players vying for the available slots, the contest is expected to be highly competitive.
Abdulrafiu further appealed to coaches to intensify efforts to secure sponsorship for qualified players, noting that the federation will regularly monitor funding preparations ahead of the championship.
Nigeria heads into the qualifiers buoyed by an impressive performance at the last World Youth Scrabble Championship in Malaysia, where Abdulqodus Aliou finished runner-up overall, while Sophia Ekeruche won the Best Female Player award.
The 2026 World Youth Scrabble Championship will take place from August 7 to 9 at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, with Nigeria aiming to build on its recent achievements on the international stage.
