Nigeria have secured qualification for the 2025 ITTF World Youth Championships in Romania after winning the boys’ U-19 team event at the ongoing African Youth Championships in Lagos.
Competing at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, the Nigerian team overcame a tough semifinal clash against Egypt, battling back from a 0-2 deficit to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory. They replicated the scoreline in the final against Tunisia to reclaim the continental crown, having missed out in 2024.
Despite Tunisia’s Wassim Essid defeating both Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Nigeria sealed the title when Abdulfatai delivered a commanding 3-0 win over Mohamed Khaloufi in the decisive fifth match. Egypt and Algeria settled for bronze medals.
However, in the girls’ U-19 category, Nigeria were denied a place at the World Youth Championships after falling 3-0 to defending champions Egypt in the final. The Egyptian girls claimed their fourth consecutive team title and the sole African ticket in the category.
Mariam Younes opened the scoring with a 3-0 win over Aishat Rabiu, followed by Habiba Elbasoumy’s identical scoreline victory against Favour Ojo. Kabirat Ayoola briefly raised Nigerian hopes by taking a set off Nour Zaki, but the Egyptian completed a 3-1 win to secure the clean sweep. Madagascar and South Africa shared the bronze medals.
In the U-15 girls’ final, history was made as Uganda clinched their first-ever team gold at the African Youth Championships. The Ugandan side staged a spirited comeback to edge Tunisia 3-2, underlining the growing competitiveness of the continental youth scene.
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