Tag: table tennis

Reigning national champion Muiz Adegoke will face a stern test as he defends his status against former champion Matthew Kuti and defending champion Abdulbasit Abdulfatai when the 3^rd  Daniel Ford Elite Youth Table Tennis Tournament serves off  today, December 19, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Adegoke has been in blistering form over the past month, winning the maiden Governor Diri Top 16 Cup in Bayelsa and adding another title at a Lagos club tournament featuring some of Nigeria’s finest players.

However, his record at the Daniel Ford tournament has been mixed—finishing in the top four at the maiden edition in 2023 but failing to progress from the group stage in 2024. With his current momentum, he is determined to finally etch his name among the title holders of this prestigious youth competition.

Earlier this year, Adegoke’s dip in form cost him his place in the national team, but he now sees this tournament as a chance to reclaim his spot. To do so, he must overcome both Kuti and Abdulfatai—his teammates on the national squad.

Kuti, once hailed as the next big star in Nigerian table tennis, has struggled recently. He was humbled 4-0 by Adegoke at the Bayelsa tournament and suffered another defeat at a Lagos club event. A crowd favourite in Lagos, Kuti must rediscover his spark if he hopes to reclaim the title he lost to Abdulfatai in 2024.

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Abdulfatai, a left-hander from Kwara, has also endured a rough patch, bowing out early in several competitions. To retain his national team place and defend his crown, he will need to summon his best form when it matters most.

The U-19 category promises additional fireworks, with Matthew Fabunmi, current African Youth Games mixed team champion, and cadet prodigy Usman Ayoola stepping up to challenge the heavyweights.

In the girls’ U-19 division, defending champion Kabirat Ayoola will lock horns with familiar rivals—former champion Sukurat Aiyelabegan, Aishat Rabiu, and Ise Sezuo of Kogi.

Adding to the excitement is the introduction of the U-12 event, giving fans a glimpse of Nigeria’s future stars. The two-day tournament has now become a permanent fixture on the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) calendar.

According to the format, both the U-19 and U-15 categories will feature 16 players each in the boys’ and girls’ divisions. Players will be drawn into four groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

By Inioluwa David

 The third edition of the annual Daniel Ford Elite Invitational Table Tennis Tournament begins  today, December 17, with a two-day coaching clinic for all participants at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) Training Centre, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The clinic, one of the key initiatives of the tournament sponsors, is designed to empower players with essential techniques ahead of the main competition, which kicks off on Friday, December 19, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Led by top national coaches under the guidance of Dotun Omoniyi, the clinic aims to drill players, refresh their knowledge, and ensure they are in peak condition for the tournament.

For the sponsor, Yemi Edun, the clinic is a vital component of the event.

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 “A tournament should not only be about competition. It should also serve as an avenue to sharpen skills. Yes, players improve by facing strong competitors, but there is also the invaluable input of trained eyes, coaches, mentors, and experts, who prepare them before they step onto the stage. That way, every player brings their very best. And I believe the overall impact of this tournament has been overwhelmingly positive,” Edun said.

This year’s edition also features the introduction of the U-12 category, a move Edun believes will strengthen Nigeria’s talent pipeline.

 “It is absolutely within our abilities to use this tournament as a pipeline for creating elite-tier players. In sports, mastery must begin early; some say as early as 13 years old, otherwise you risk falling behind the global curve. And let us remember: we are the largest Black nation on earth. Statistically, we should have more talent to discover, nurture, and showcase. That is why I fully envisage a future, within the next seven years, where Nigeria stands proudly as Africa’s leading table tennis nation,” he added.

With its blend of competition and skill development, the Daniel Ford Elite Invitational continues to position itself as a cornerstone for nurturing Nigeria’s next generation of table tennis champions.

The Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall at Teslim Balogun Stadium is getting a vibrant makeover as Lagos prepares to host the Festival of Table Tennis, a 20-day celebration of the sport running from July 16 to August 5, 2025.

This exciting festival will feature a lineup of prestigious competitions, including the ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, WTT Contender Lagos, ITTF Africa Youth Championships, and the inaugural ITTF Africa Youth Cup.

As one of the global hubs of table tennis, Lagos is set to welcome elite players from West Africa, across the continent, and around the world for what promises to be a truly unforgettable sporting experience.

The action begins with the ITTF Africa West Regional Championships from July 16 to 19, where regional champions in team and singles events will be crowned.

From July 22 to 26, the spotlight shifts to the WTT Contender Lagos, drawing international stars eager to compete for $100,000 in prize money across five events. The increased prize pool and valuable ranking points have attracted a stellar lineup for this five-day showdown.

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Next, the continent’s rising stars take centre stage at the 2025 ITTF Africa Youth Championships, held from July 27 to August 3. This 14-event tournament will determine Africa’s top young talents.

The festival concludes with the ITTF Africa Youth Cup on August 4 and 5, offering another platform for emerging players to showcase their skills and compete for continental glory.

Throughout the three weeks, fans can expect electrifying matches, passionate crowds, and the signature energy that defines Lagos. It’s set to be a spectacular 20-day celebration of table tennis—uniting athletes, fans, and officials in a festival of competition, culture, and camaraderie.

Host state Ogun added to its medal tally in table tennis at the 22^nd  National Sports Festival—tagged Gateway Games Ogun 2024—by securing gold in the Mixed Doubles category.

On Monday, Ogun had already claimed two gold medals in the para table tennis events. Building on that success, the duo of Bode Abiodun and Tosin Oribamishe delivered a stellar performance in the Mixed Doubles final, defeating Bayelsa’s Azeez Solanke and Iyanuoluwa Falana.

Their path to the final wasn’t without challenges. In the semi-finals, they faced stiff competition from Edo’s Rilwan Akanbi and Aminat Fashola. It was Abiodun’s experience that proved decisive, helping the Ogun team edge out a narrow 3-2 victory to book their place in the final.

Unlike the hard-fought semi-final, the final saw a dominant performance from the Ogun pair. They cruised to a straight-sets 3-0 victory over Bayelsa, bringing Ogun’s gold medal count in table tennis to three.

Meanwhile, the singles competitions are heating up as they enter a critical stage. Defending women’s singles champion Fatimo Bello of Delta has confidently declared her intent to retain the title.

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 “Expect a different performance in this festival because nothing can stop me from retaining the title. It’s going to be tougher this year, but I’m fully ready for any opponent here in Abeokuta,” said Bello.

The men’s singles event promises a fierce contest with more than ten top contenders, including foreign-based stars such as Olajide Omotayo, Bode Abiodun, Taiwo Mati, Bode Kayode, and Azeez Solanke. They will be joined by local talents like Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, as well as defending champion Amadi Omeh of Edo.

Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA), Tunji Lawal, praised the organizers and emphasized the importance of talent identification at the festival.

 “I must commend the Ogun State government for putting on a great show. The turnout for the table tennis event has been impressive. With more players participating, we increase our chances of discovering new talent. This is a promising development for the sport in Nigeria. Hopefully, we can find the next Quadri Aruna at this year’s Gateway Games,” Lawal stated.

Otan Ayegbaju, a historic town in south-west  Nigeria, will host 50 teams from states and clubs across the country for the 5^th  edition of the Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis Championships in Osun State.

The tournament, sponsored by the Michael and Felicia Alabi Foundation and organized by the Osun State Table Tennis Association under the auspices of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), will take place at Idera Multi-Purpose Hall in Otan Ayegbaju between  April 27 and  May 3.

Participating teams will come from various states including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Taraba, Nasarawa, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Kogi, Ekiti, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, and the host state, Osun. Expected clubs include Aruna Sports Club, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Nigeria Police Force.

With over ₦11.5 million at stake, the one-week tournament will take place at the newly built Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Hall.

Ayodeji Alabi, chairman of the Osun State Table Tennis Association, stated that the tournament aims to complement the federation’s efforts to discover new talent and empower youth across the country.

To enhance this year’s edition, the tournament promises a blend of sports and entertainment, with several artists scheduled to perform daily.

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Alabi, a member of the ITTF Africa Committee, assured that all participants would be accommodated and fed throughout the event to motivate them to perform their best.

 “Whoever comes to this tournament will take home a lot of happiness because we have an entertainment lounge featuring many artists. After the games, there will be comedy shows, music performances, and well-known disc jockeys. We are creating a diverse entertainment portfolio for everyone attending,” Alabi said.

Additionally, para and deaf events will be part of this year’s edition, with athletes competing in various categories including men’s singles, women’s singles, U-15 boys’ and girls’ singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, veteran singles, para men’s singles open, para women’s singles open, deaf men’s singles, deaf women’s singles, and local singles.

“This year, we expect about 400 to 450 participants, and we will house and feed them free of charge. This year’s tournament is different because we have created an environment where participants will sleep and eat well,” Alabi added.

A staggering sum of 11.5 million naira will be up for grab at this year’s NTTF-sanctioned Michael & Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis festival scheduled to hold between  27^th  April  and 3^rd  May  at the newly built Idera Multi-purpose Hall in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State, Nigeria.

Addressing news men in Osogbo township stadium ahead of the Ping-Pong event, Ayodeji Alabi,  the major sponsor of the tournament said the event is taking a  bigger dimension with an improved prize package and welfare for all the participants.

The 11.5 million naira is to be won in the various categories, which include men’s singles, women’s singles, under-15 boys’ singles, under-15 girls’ singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, veteran singles, Para men singles open, and Para women singles open, while deaf men singles and deaf women singles, local singles.

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Alabi confirmed that participants from not less than 35 states of the federation  have registered to compete in the table tennis event, hence their resolve to treat them to a special welfare package that will create a long lasting memories in their minds.

“This is the only table tennis competition in the country where standard accommodation and feeding will are being provided for all the participants and I can assure that the food this year will be better than the previous years. Also we now have fantastic facilities with our newly built 3000 sitter’s multipurpose hall, 50 rooms’ hotel facilities, a lounge, swimming garden, children recreational corner, and a zoological garden, all in one place to the delight of all our guest,” Alabi said.  

For the first time in two years, Matthew Kuti was dethroned as the national champion at the 2nd  Daniel Ford Elite Youth Invitational Table Tennis Championships. Rabiat Ayoola also emerged as the new U-19 girls’ champion over the weekend.

The two-day tournament, organized by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTTF) and funded by UK-based real estate firm Daniel Ford International, founded by Yemi Edun, saw 75 top players nationwide compete.

After a successful two-day coaching clinic to hone skills ahead of the tournament, U-19 boys defending champion Kuti aimed to become the first player to claim back-to-back titles.

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Despite taking a 3-1 lead in the final, his efforts were thwarted by southpaw Abdulfatai, who fought back to claim a 4-3 victory (7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9) to the amazement of fans at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

In the girls’ U-19 final, Ayoola also fought back from the brink of defeat to beat Aishat Rabiu 4-3 (11-9, 8-11, 14-16, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-4) and become the new champion.

In the girls’ U-15 final, Abia State claimed their first national title after Chinenye Okafor beat Ifeoluwa Ajasa of Lagos State 3-2 (11-5, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-6). In the boys’ U-15, Abdulamid Adebayo of Lagos stunned Samuel Dada of Kogi 3-2 (4-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7) to become the new boys’ champion.

A relieved Abdulfatai described his win over Kuti as his first triumph over the national champion in all their meetings, praising the sponsor for keeping faith with the tournament.