Nigeria Scrabble players will take a center stage from today at the Scrabble event of 13th All Africa Games currently holding in Ghana. Ably led by the national coach, Anthony Ikolo, eight top Scrabble players have been announced to fly the nation's flag at the games. The Scrabble event will be showcased as a demonstration sport at the games and will begin from March 15 -17 2023, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
The Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) recently announced that a total of 13 countries will be participating, and also that the Scrabble event at the Games in Ghana will be streamed live on its official Twitch channel for viewers globally. Interested viewers can connect to the PANASA official Twitch channel by clicking here to follow the games live. The Scrabble event at the games are in two languages; English and French.
In the English language Scrabble event, Nigeria will be joined by the host nation Ghana, as well as Liberia, Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, South Africa and Zambia while the French language Scrabble competition will feature Benin Republic, Gabon, Togo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) recently selected a team of eight (8) players to carry the nations flag after an intense three-week camping at Ibadan, Nigeria. The team along with NSF officials including NSF president, Toke Aka and the federation's secretary Ejiro Thukson, are currently in Ghana and are in high spirits to defend the nation's rating as the best Scrabble playing nation in Africa.
Four additional teams have secured spots in the finals of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation Inter Club Championship, set to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West Nigeria.
The University of Lagos Scrabble Club, Ikorodu Scrabble Club, Pyramid Scrabble Club, and Surulere Scrabble Club, all from Lagos State, earned their places in the finals during the South West Zonal Playoff. 
Under the leadership of Enoch Nwali, current African Scrabble Champion, the University of Lagos Scrabble Club dominated group A, defeating Ibadan Scrabble Club and BSP Scrabble Club. Ibadan Scrabble Club finished second in group A, with BSP Scrabble Club coming in third.
Pyramid Scrabble Club, led by Dipo Akanbi, a former NSF Green Jacket holder, advanced to the final phase of the championship with wins over Surulere Scrabble Club and Egbin Scrabble Club in group B. Ikorodu Scrabble Club secured three wins in group C, outperforming Lekki Scrabble Club and the newly-formed Alausa Scrabble Club. Surulere Scrabble Club qualified for the finals as winners of the second chance Play-Off, defeating Ibadan Scrabble Club and Lekki Scrabble Club.
Kaduna Central Scrabble Club was the first team to secure their place in the finals after defeating South Side Scrabble Club to claim the Northwest slot. Apex Scrabble Club of Abuja, led by Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) Technical Director John Curtis, also qualified for the finals from the North Central Zonal Play-Off.
Jos Scrabble Club and Anambra Scrabble Club have also secured their places in the finals, with the South South Zone yet to decide its Play-Off.
Teams through to the finals include Jos Scrabble Club, Apex Scrabble Club, Anambra Scrabble Club, Abeokuta Scrabble Club: the host city club, Kaduna Central Scrabble Club, Surulere Scrabble Club, Ikorodu Scrabble Club, Pyramid Scrabble Club, and the University of Lagos Scrabble Club.
Twenty-eight clubs from thirteen states and the Nigeria Police participated in the race to reach the finals of the NSF Inter Club Championship. The Inter Club Championship is part of the NSF Scrabble Festival, which also includes the Asaph Zadok National Championship, the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and the Awards and Gala Night.
Delta State is the defending champion of the Asaph Zadok National Championship, with Eta Paul Karo currently holding the NSF Green Jacket.
Edited from reports by Maxwell Kumoye, head, NSF Media and Publicity
