Ado Salisu
The Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) has unveiled its New Year Honours List, recognising seven outstanding players whose performances between December 1, 2024 and November 30, 2025 defined one of the most successful periods in African Scrabble history.
The honours were ratified by the PANASA Technical Committee led by Technical Director Chrispine Okeyo (Kenya), alongside Ratings Officer Umar Faruq Babainna (Nigeria), Don Elijah Kagiri (Uganda), Adedeji Khaleel (Nigeria) and Emmanuel Enyi (Nigeria).
The committee reviewed continental rankings and performances at the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) Ghana 2025.
To date, PANASA has awarded 13 Continental Champion (CC) badges, seven Grand Master (GM) titles and 12 Expert (EXP) distinctions, reflecting the rapid growth and rising standard of Scrabble across the continent.
Africa’s Golden Year on the Global Stage
The 2025 season will be remembered as a breakthrough year for African Scrabble on the global stage.
At the World Youth Scrabble Championships in Malaysia, Nigeria’s Abdulqudus Aliu finished second overall Africa’s best-ever result at the event while 14-year-old Sophia Ekeruche claimed the Best Female Player award.
Africa also hosted the world at WESPAC Ghana 2025, widely acclaimed as the best edition of the championship to date.
Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya topped the country rankings, while Nigeria’s Oluwatimilehin Doko, Tega Okiemute and Abdulmumuni Jimoh, alongside African Games gold medallist Emmanuel King of Sierra Leone, all finished in the individual Top 10.
Mauritius and Togo also made historic first appearances at the championship.
The Honourees
Prestige Archibong (JCC)
Prestige becomes the first-ever recipient of the Junior Continental Champion badge. After winning the Under-15 title at the African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC) in 2023, he stepped up to the Under-19 category in 2025 and claimed the title again, completing a clean sweep of continental youth honours.
Sophia Ekeruche (JCC)
One of the brightest young talents in world Scrabble, Sophia delivered a record-breaking performance at the AYSC in Kenya, going unbeaten in 18 games to win the Under-15 title without dropping a single match. The 14-year-old, already a regular on Nigeria’s elite circuit, now earns the Junior Continental Champion badge.
Tega Okiemute (GM)
A year of consistency and podium finishes saw Tega rise from Expert to Grand Master. He closed 2025 with an average rating of 2134.7 across 90 games, finishing seventh on the African Ratings Ladder.
George Ezinore (GM)
Already an Expert in 2024, George elevated his game further in 2025. Victories including the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) Green Jacket, alongside strong performances in Kenya and Ghana, helped him finish the year with an average rating of 2100 over 126 games, ranking third on the African Ratings Ladder.
David Ojih (EXP)
At just 21, David Ojih has become the youngest Expert on the continent. The former African Under-19 champion enjoyed a stellar season across Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, winning medals at the Nigeria National Sports Festival and a side event at WESPAC 2025. He ended the year with an average rating of 2027.
Adebola “Dunsin” Samuel (EXP)
After narrowly missing out on Expert status in 2024, Dunsin responded with an outstanding 2025. Wins at the Governor Douye Diri Scrabble Championship and the BSP Tournament in Yenagoa propelled him into Africa’s elite, finishing fifth on the continental rankings with an average rating of 2032.
Lukeman Owolabi (EXP)
A familiar name on the global circuit, Lukeman continued to shine in 2025 with strong performances across continents. The current number one player in Ireland, he finished eighth on the African Ratings Ladder and earns the Continental Expert badge following a season that included a Cape Town International title and a Top-10 finish at WESPAC Ghana.
As PANASA celebrates these seven honourees, the message is clear: African Scrabble is not only growing it is thriving, producing champions, record-breakers and global contenders, with an even brighter future ahead.