Ghanaian epeeist Yasime Fosu made history on Feb. 2 when she competed in the Vigor Challenge’s junior women’s epee event in Gothenburg, Sweden and became the first known Ghanaian to compete on fencing’s international stage.

Fosu fenced six bouts and while she did lose all of them, two were only by a slim 5-4 margin. She finished 184th (out of 189).

Since Ghana, which joined the Fédération Internationale de l’Escrime (FIE) in 2012, has competed internationally there are now 10 countries (out of the FIE’s 149 members) left without a known international history. These 10 nations, along with their join dates, are:

Antigua & Barbuda (2010)

Bahamas (2010)

Belize (2008)

Gabon (2008)

Guam (2011)

Korea DPR (1968)

Myanmar (2007)

Somoa (2013)

Somalia (2007)

Yemen (2004)

Of those 10 countries, two (Gabon and Somalia) have fencers listed in the FIE fencer database. Also, Korea DPR may have competed at some point since 1968, but it has never sent fencers to the Olympics or FIE World Championships and has not competed since at least 2003 (if the country has competed at all).

The two other most recent countries that Ghana joins in leaving this list are Madagascar and Rwanda, both of which sent fencers to the 2013 African Championships in Cape Town, South Africa last June. Rwanda and Madagascar also joined the FIE in 2012.

Fencing in Ghana is governed by the Ghana Fencing Association under the leadership of association president Mohammed Mahadi. They do not have an official website, but more information can be found at their Facebook page.