Nigeria’s U-15 And U-19 Boys Clinch Gold At 2025 ITTF African Youth Championships.
Nigeria’s young table tennis stars shone brightly at the 2025 ITTF African Youth Championships, securing gold medals in both the U-15 and U-19 boys’ team events at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium. The victories, celebrated amidst roaring crowds, not only reaffirmed Nigeria’s dominance in African youth table tennis but also earned the U-19 team a coveted spot at the 2025 World Youth Championships in Romania.
In the U-19 boys’ final, Nigeria faced a formidable challenge from defending champions Tunisia. Trailing 0-2 after Tunisia’s Wassim Essid narrowly defeated Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai in two thrilling 3-2 matches, Nigeria staged a remarkable comeback. The turning point came when Abdulfatai delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Mohamed Khaloufi in the decisive match, sparking wild celebrations and sealing Nigeria’s return to the continental summit after missing the 2024 edition. The team’s resilience was evident earlier in the semi-finals, where they overcame a 0-2 deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2, showcasing their determination and skill.
Not to be outdone, Nigeria’s U-15 boys’ team powered through the competition with tactical precision and technical prowess, clinching their gold medal with a dominant performance. Their cohesive play overwhelmed opponents at every stage, underlining the depth of talent in Nigeria’s youth ranks. The team’s head coach praised their “discipline and team spirit,” describing the double gold as a testament to their hard work and preparation.
The championships, held from 27 July to 3 August 2025, saw 150 athletes from 17 African nations compete across 16 events, including team, singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories. Nigeria’s success in the boys’ events stood out, with the U-19 team’s victory securing their place at the global stage in Romania later this year. While the Nigerian U-19 girls’ team fell 3-0 to Egypt in their final, the boys’ triumphs provided ample cause for celebration.
Social media posts on X reflected the national pride, with users hailing the “golden era” of Nigerian sports and urging authorities to honour the young athletes. One post noted, “Nigeria made history at the African Youth Table Tennis Championships, winning gold in the U-15 and U-19 boys’ team events,” while another called for recognition to boost the team’s morale ahead of the world championships.
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) expressed optimism about the future, with officials highlighting the victories as a sign of the country’s growing prowess in the sport. “These consecutive titles light up a path forward, with Nigeria firmly re-establishing itself as a force in African youth table tennis,” an NTTF statement read.
As attention now shifts to the singles and doubles events, where Nigerian players like Tobi Adebakin, Adeoye Hussein, and Joseph Marvelous aim to add to the medal tally, fans and officials remain hopeful. The seamless organisation of the championships, praised by ATTF President Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi, has further elevated Lagos as a hub for African table tennis, setting the stage for the inaugural ITTF African Youth Cup from 4 to 5 August.
With these victories, Nigeria’s young stars have not only brought home gold but also ignited hope for even greater achievements on the global stage. The nation looks forward to their performance at the World Youth Championships, confident that this talented cohort will continue to make their mark.
