The 2025 ITTF African Youth Championships kick off at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, with more than 150 young players from 19 African countries vying for continental honors and qualification spots for the World Youth Championships in Romania later this year.
This marks the first time Lagos will host the continent’s premier youth table tennis tournament.
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Nigeria’s top seeds, Tobi Adebakin and Favour Ojo, have vowed to give their best performances as they spearhead the country’s medal hunt in the U-15 and U-19 categories.
Speaking at the official press briefing, ITTF Africa President Wahid Oshodi expressed confidence in the next generation of African talent, highlighting the rising level of play across the continent.
“I’m thrilled that we’ll witness such high-level play from the best young talents across Africa. This generation is arguably the most gifted we’ve seen, and they represent the future of African table tennis,” Mr Oshodi declared.
Competitions Manager, Menna Elzaabalawy revealed that aside from medals, much more is at stake. Winners of the team events will automatically qualify for the World Youth Championships (WYC) later this year in Romania, while singles finalists will also punch their tickets to the global stage.
“This is the largest gathering of youth teams in Africa, and we anticipate thrilling matches over the next seven days,” she said, emphasising the significance of the U-15 and U-19 categories on show.
ITTF Africa
