Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in West African table tennis as the men’s team, led by rising star Taiwo Mati, clinched the Men’s Team title at the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships with a commanding 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast in the final.
The championship, held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, saw the host nation deliver a series of impressive performances throughout the tournament, capped by a flawless display in Sunday’s final.
Mati Sets the Pace
20-year-old Taiwo Mati, who currently plies his trade in France with Le Havre in the Pro B division, was instrumental in Nigeria’s title-winning campaign. In the final against the Oba Kizito-led Ivorian side, Mati opened proceedings with a confident 3-1 win, asserting early control and setting the tone for the team.
Veteran Matthew Kuti and the ever-reliable Abdulbasit Abdulfatai followed up with straight-sets victories in their respective matches, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 win and the gold medal for Nigeria.
Road to the Final
Nigeria’s path to the title was marked by dominance and depth. They began their campaign with a walkover win against Liberia, followed by a 3-1 group stage victory over the Ivory Coast.
In the semi-finals, the Nigerians made light work of Benin Republic, securing a 3-0 win to set up a rematch with the Ivorians in the final—where they again proved too strong.
With the win, Nigeria completed a clean sweep in the team events, having already clinched the Women’s Team title earlier in the tournament, led by U.S.-based star Ajoke Ojomu.
Next Stop: Singles Showdown
Attention now turns to the singles and doubles events, where players will battle for individual honours and qualification spots for the 2025 ITTF Africa Championships set to take place in Rwanda.
Taiwo Mati, fresh off his standout performances, will headline Nigeria’s charge in the men’s singles, while Ajoke Ojomu is a top favourite in the women’s draw.
“This win means a lot. It shows our strength as a team and gives us great confidence going into the singles,” said Mati after the final. “I’m focused and ready for the next challenge.”
The ITTF Africa West Regional Championship continues through the week, with medals still up for grabs across various categories, including U-19 singles and mixed doubles.