Sierra Leone’s top scrabbler, Emmanuel King Esq., endured a mixed outing at the 2026 Africa Scrabble Championship, with an impressive start followed by difficult performances on the second and third days of the competition.
Veteran scrabbler and National Scrabble Association of Sierra Leone (NSASL) President Christian Asgill also attracted attention, finishing with the same number of wins as King, despite recording a negative spread. A total of 101 scrabblers participated in this year’s championship, with Sierra Leone represented by eight players.
King finished in 56th position, winning 16 games and losing 16, with a spread of +143. Foday Fofanah finished 57th with 16 wins, 16 losses and a spread of +40, while Asgill placed 59th with the same win-loss record but a spread of -86.
Sierra Leone’s 2026 national champion, Ishmael Sesay, finished 75th after winning 15 games and losing 17, with a spread of -403.
Gazalie Kanu placed 83rd, recording 14 wins and 18 losses. Alie Mansaray finished 84th with the same record and a spread of -191, while Victor Mamah placed 88th, also winning 14 games and losing 18, with a spread of -752. NSASL Vice President Patrick Sam Mboma finished 103rd, recording five wins and 27 losses, with a spread of -223.
Sierra Leone’s Results
| Position | Player | Wins | Losses | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56th | Emmanuel King Esq. | 16 | 16 | +143 |
| 57th | Foday Fofanah | 16 | 16 | +40 |
| 59th | Christian Asgill | 16 | 16 | -86 |
| 75th | Ishmael Sesay | 15 | 17 | -403 |
| 83rd | Gazalie Kanu | 14 | 18 | — |
| 84th | Alie Mansaray | 14 | 18 | -191 |
| 88th | Victor Mamah | 14 | 18 | -752 |
| 103rd | Patrick Sam Mboma | 5 | 27 | -223 |
Nigeria’s Dominance
Nigeria, the continent’s dominant force and a leading power in world scrabble, demonstrated its strength by occupying seven of the top 10 positions.
Jimoh Abdulmumin emerged as the 2026 African Scrabble Champion after winning 23 games and losing 9, finishing with an impressive spread of +1,760. His compatriot George Ezinore also recorded 23 wins and 9 losses but finished as runner-up with a spread of +1,005.
Abdulmumin’s superior spread proved decisive, securing him the continental title ahead of Ezinore despite both players recording identical win-loss statistics.
The championship once again highlighted Nigeria’s dominance in African scrabble, while Sierra Leone’s players will be hoping to build on their experience and improve their performances in future continental competitions.
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