Nigeria’s Abdulmumin Jimoh produced a near-flawless display to dominate Scrabblemania 3.0 in Sinkor, Monrovia, which underlines his status as one of Africa’s top wordsmiths and signalling the continent’s growing scrabble ambitions ahead of the 2026 African Championship, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Jimoh finished the tournament with 26 wins and four losses, amassing a colossal +2612 spread, a performance that saw him control proceedings from start to finish.
But beyond the statistics, his triumph highlighted the maturation of African Scrabble, reflecting the growing competitiveness, structure, and camaraderie within the sport.
The event offered a glimpse of the continent’s Scrabble ecosystem, which was similarly evident at the World English Scrabble Players Association 2025 tournament in Accra.
Held at Monrovia’s Boulevard Palace, Scrabblemania 3.0 brought together some of Africa’s finest players.
Jimoh, who has previously helped Team Nigeria win the Best Country award at the World Championship in Accra, praised the atmosphere and the relationships formed during the event. “Scrabblemania was truly spectacular,” he said.
“I made amazing friends, learned so much, and enjoyed top-notch scrabble.”
Jimoh also acknowledged the contribution of leadership in African scrabble.
He expressed gratitude to the President of the Pan African Scrabble Association, Adekoyejo Adegbesan, for mentorship and guidance, and commended Lester Morris, President of the National Scrabble Association of Liberia, for overseeing a seamlessly organised tournament.
Behind Jimoh, competition remained intense. Lukeman Owolabi, Chairman of WESPA, finished second with 20 wins, while Ghana’s Charles Tachie Menson and Nigeria’s Cyriel Umebiye ended tied on 19 victories, separated only by spread.
Liberia’s Sherif Malek placed fifth, providing a clear signal of the country’s emerging Scrabble talent and offering the home crowd reasons for optimism.
For Liberia, the event was more than a championship, it doubled as a rehearsal for hosting the 2026 African Scrabble Championship as Monrovia is set to host the continent’s flagship 2026 event.
