Nigeria's young table tennis stars have made the nation proud by clinching gold medals in the U-15 and U-19 boys' team events at the ITTF Africa Youth Championships. The championships, held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, saw Nigeria's teams demonstrate exceptional skill and determination.
The Nigerian U-19 quartet, comprising Kuti Mathew, AbdulBasit AbdulFatai, Fabunmi Mathew, and Atunwon Quadri, staged a remarkable comeback in the semifinals, overturning a 0-2 deficit to edge Egypt 3-2. They then defeated Tunisia by the same scoreline in the final, showcasing their resilience and prowess. This victory has secured Nigeria's spot at the 2025 World Youth Championships in Romania .
The Nigerian U-15 team, featuring Joseph Marvelous, Adeoye Hussein, Adebakin Tobi, and Joseph Victor, also claimed gold, defeating arch-rivals Egypt 3-2 in the final. This win marks a significant achievement for Nigeria's young table tennis players, who demonstrated impressive skills and composure under pressure .
- Over 150 players from 17 countries participated in the championships, competing in singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events.
- The winners of the team events qualified for the World Youth Championships in Romania, while singles finalists also earned automatic berths.
- Top players like Tunisia's Wassim Essid and Nigeria's Favour Ojo showcased their talents, with Essid expressing excitement about competing in Lagos for the first time .
This victory marks Nigeria's return to the top of African youth table tennis after missing out in 2024. Egypt and Algeria settled for bronze in the competition. Nigeria's success in table tennis is a testament to the country's growing dominance in the sport, following their recent wins at the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships .
With the singles events still ongoing, Nigeria's prospects, including Kuti and Ajoke Ojomu, are tipped to secure additional World Youth Championship spots as finalists in these categories also qualify for Romania. The championships serve as a crucial stepping stone towards the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and Nigeria's young stars are writing a new chapter in the nation's storied table tennis legacy, with their sights set on global glory
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