Table Tennis
Kuti Makes History as Nigeria Dominates 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships
Nigeria’s Matthew Kuti made history on Saturday, July 19, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall in Lagos, becoming the first West African to successfully defend the men’s singles title at the ITTF Africa West Regional Championships.
His landmark achievement capped a dominant performance by Team Nigeria, which swept gold in all major categories and reaffirmed its status as the regional powerhouse in table tennis.
Kuti overcame a stiff challenge from compatriot Abdulbasit Abdulfatai in the men’s singles final, recovering from a first-set loss to win 4-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7) and secure back-to-back titles in front of a raucous home crowd at Teslim Balogun Stadium.
In the women’s singles, Ajoke Ojomu earned her maiden regional title after defeating Sukurat Aiyelabegan in straight sets (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 14-12).
It was a moment of redemption for Ojomu, who lost the 2024 final to Hope Udoaka. Despite nursing a leg injury during the match, she fought through the pain, spurred on by the cheering fans in Lagos.
“This victory means everything to me,” Ojomu said after the match. “The support from the fans pushed me beyond my limits. After the disappointment of last year, I was determined to win this for Nigeria and myself.”
Team Nigeria’s dominance extended beyond the singles events. Earlier in the championship, the men’s team—featuring Kuti, Taiwo Mati, and Abdulfatai—crushed Côte d’Ivoire 3-0 in the final to reclaim the team title they lost to Togo in 2024.
The trio dropped only one set throughout the tournament, ironically to Côte d’Ivoire in the group stage, before powering through the knockout rounds with commanding performances.
In the women’s team event, Ojomu led Nigeria to an unbeaten run, defeating Benin Republic, Ghana, and Guinea without dropping a match.
The four-day tournament, which doubled as a qualifier for the 2025 African Championships scheduled for October 12–19 in Kigali, Rwanda, featured seven countries following Liberia’s late withdrawal. Nigeria swept aside opposition from Ghana, Togo, Guinea, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso to maintain its dominance in the West African region.
Vice President of ITTF Africa West Region, Ferdinand Sounou, hailed the Lagos event as the best-organized edition of the championship to date.
“This year’s tournament in Lagos was a resounding success,” Sounou said. “The quality of organization and the elevated standard of play were impressive.
Compared to previous editions, which were often dominated by a few countries, this year showed a remarkable improvement across the board.”
He added that while Nigeria remains the dominant force, the rest of the region is catching up. “Nigerian players are no longer the untouchables they once were. The gap is closing, and the competition is intensifying.”
As the dust settles on the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, Nigeria’s table tennis stars leave with gold around their necks and their eyes firmly set on Kigali, where continental glory awaits.
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The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has elected Dr. Adesoji Tayo as its new president following the conclusion of the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja on Saturday, October 4.
Dr. Tayo, who previously served as Vice President of the federation, succeeds Ishaku Tikon, whose eight-year tenure came to an end after steering the affairs of Nigerian table tennis through two terms.
Chairman of the Oyo State Table Tennis Association, Dr. Tayo emerged unopposed after his main challenger, Khamisu Ahmed from Gombe State, stepped down and was subsequently named the new Vice President.
With his election, Dr. Tayo joins the growing ranks of passionate table tennis enthusiasts who have taken leadership roles in the sport’s administration.
He is expected to bring renewed energy and direction to the NTTF over the next four years, building on the developmental strides achieved under his predecessor.
The new leadership is anticipated to focus on grassroots development, international competitiveness, and strengthening state associations to sustain Nigeria’s rich legacy in the sport.
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Following his last outing at the 2023 ITTF World Championships in Durban, South Africa, Taiwo Mati makes a return to Nigeria’s national team as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) announces a 10-man squad for the 2025 ITTF African Championships, scheduled to take place in Tunis, Tunisia, from October 12 to 19.
The continental event serves as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom—a landmark edition marking the centenary of the World Championships, which will return to the city where it all began in 1926.
Mati, who plays professionally in Europe, earned his spot after a strong performance at the 2025 West Regional Championships, where he finished among the top four, edging out Muiz Adegoke.
He joins a formidable lineup that includes Africa’s top-ranked player, Quadri Aruna; 2019 African Games gold medalist, Olajide Omotayo; two-time West African champion, Matthew Kuti; and rising talent Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.
Despite being one of Africa’s standout performers at Durban 2023, Mati had been absent from the national team for two years.
His semifinal finish at the regional tournament in Lagos last July marked a successful comeback for the left-handed star.
The women’s team features promising young players, including Favour Ojo, Aishat Rabiu, Kabirat Ayoola, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan. Veteran Ajoke Ojomu will lead the squad as captain in Tunis.
NTTF Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, emphasized the importance of early exposure for young athletes:
“We believe that exposing these young players to top-tier competitions will help them grow stronger and more confident. Competing against Africa’s best will prepare them to face global opponents. Most elite players began early, and we want our talents to follow that path.
With guidance from experienced coaches like Segun Toriola and Dotun Omoniyi, we’re optimistic they’ll gain valuable experience and deliver strong performances,” he said.
Top-performing teams in both the men’s and women’s categories will earn qualification for London 2026, the sport’s most prestigious stage.
In the men’s division, Nigeria and Egypt lead a competitive field that includes Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The women’s competition will feature Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.
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Africa’s table tennis powerhouses, Nigeria and Egypt, will lead the charge for qualification to the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom, as the continent’s top teams converge in Tunis, Tunisia, for the 2025 ITTF African Championships from October 12 to 19.
London 2026 marks a historic centenary celebration, returning the World Championships to the city where it all began in 1926. The Tunis tournament serves as the official African qualification event, with the top-performing men’s and women’s teams securing their place on the sport’s grandest stage.
In the men’s division, Nigeria—West Africa’s dominant force—and Egypt—the North African powerhouse—will be joined by Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The women’s field features Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.
With London in sight, the battle for qualification will intensify during the final three days of the continental tournament, where all eyes will be on Nigeria and Egypt as they renew their storied rivalry.
According to the ITTF, London 2026 will feature 64 teams in both the men’s and women’s events—an expansion from the previous 40-team format. This growth reflects the global rise of table tennis and opens the door for more nations to compete at the highest level.
The tournament will unfold across two iconic London venues. The Copper Box Arena will host the opening rounds from April 28 to May 1, followed by the main draw at Wembley Arena from May 2 to 10, where the world’s elite will compete for the ultimate prize.
Each gender will see 64 teams divided into 16 groups of four, with round-robin matches determining progression. A key innovation in the format is the introduction of Stage 1a and Stage 1b:
Stage 1a features the top eight teams (seven highest-ranked plus host nation) split into two groups. All eight automatically advance, with group results determining seedings.
Stage 1b includes the remaining 56 teams across 14 groups. The 14 group winners and six best second-placed teams qualify directly. The remaining eight second-placed teams enter a preliminary knockout round, with four winners completing the 32-team main draw.
From the first serve at the Copper Box to the final point at Wembley, London 2026 promises to celebrate not only the present strength of global table tennis but also the remarkable journey that began in the same city a century ago.
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