Nigeria has emerged victorious at the 2025 ITTF African Youth Table Tennis Championships held in Lagos, winning gold medals in both the U-15 and U-19 boys’ team events, as well as the U-19 boys’ doubles.
The tournament, hosted at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, featured over 150 athletes from 18 African countries competing across 16 categories. Nigeria’s performance stood out, especially in the boys’ divisions.
In the U-15 boys’ team final, Nigeria edged Egypt 3–2 in a tense encounter. The team—Joseph Marvelous, Adeoye Hussein, Adebakin Tobi, and Joseph Victor—held their nerve to deliver a thrilling win on home soil.
The U-19 boys’ team followed suit, defeating Tunisia 3–2 in a dramatic final. Kuti Mathew, AbdulBasit AbdulFatai, Fabunmi Mathew, and Atunwon Quadri were instrumental. The team had earlier staged a comeback from two games down in the semifinals against Egypt.
Doubles Glory and World Championship Qualification
Nigeria also claimed the U-19 boys’ doubles title. AbdulFatai AbdulBasit and Mathew Kuti defeated Tunisia’s Essid Wassim and Khaloufi Mohamed 3–1 in the final.
These victories earned Nigeria qualification spots for the 2025 ITTF World Youth Championships in Romania. The team events serve as automatic qualifiers, while singles finalists also secure tickets to the global stage.
🥇 A MOMENT TO REMEMBER
— National Sports Commission (@NatSportsComm) August 5, 2025
Nigeria’s Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai stunned Tunisia’s Wassim Essid and Mohamed Khaloufi 3–1 in the U‑19 boys’ doubles final to secure gold for Team Nigeria at the ITTF Africa Youth Championships.
Congratulations once again to all the young… pic.twitter.com/WJL2wC1Qxa
Despite the boys’ success, Nigeria lost the U-19 girls’ team final to Egypt, who claimed their fourth consecutive title. Uganda made history by winning its first-ever continental gold in the U-15 girls’ category.
The Nigerian Table Tennis Federation praised the players’ efforts, calling the wins “proof of Nigeria’s rising strength in youth table tennis.” ITTF Africa President Wahid Oshodi also commended the country’s hosting capacity and talent development.
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