Nigeria have booked their place at the 2025 ITTF World Youth Championships in Romania after triumphing in the boys’ U-19 team event at the ongoing African Youth Championships.
Competing at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, the Nigerian team recovered from a 0-2 deficit in the semifinals to edge Egypt 3-2, before defeating Tunisia by the same scoreline in the final.
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Despite Tunisia’s Wassim Essid defeating both Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Nigeria won the title after Abdulfatai beat Mohamed Khaloufi 3-0 in the decider. The win confirmed Nigeria’s return to the continental summit after missing out in 2024. Egypt and Algeria settled for bronze.
In the girls’ U-19 final, Nigeria fell 3-0 to Egypt, who won their fourth consecutive title and the only African ticket to the WYC in that category.
Egypt’s Mariam Younes defeated Aishat Rabiu 3-0, before Habiba Elbasoumy beat Favour Ojo by the same score.
Kabirat Ayoola managed to win a set against Nour Zaki, but the Egyptian wrapped it up 3-1 to complete the clean sweep. Madagascar and South Africa picked up bronze.
In the U-15 girls’ final, Uganda won their first-ever African Youth Championships team gold when they came from behind to defeat Tunisia 3-2.
Patience Anyango clinched the decisive point with a 3-2 win over Mariam Brahimi with Egypt and Algeria settling for bronze in the event.
ITTF Africa.
