Nigeria dominates the 2025 ITTF Africa Championship West Regionals in Lagos, reclaiming the men’s team title and defending women’s title ahead of Kigali finals
Nigeria has reclaimed its dominance at the 2025 ITTF Africa Championship West Regional qualifiers, with both the men’s and women’s teams delivering resounding victories on home soil in Lagos.
Held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, the regional championship served as a qualifier for the 2025 African Championships scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda, later this year.
After losing the men’s team title to Togo in 2024, the Nigerian squad—led by Matthew Kuti, Taiwo Mati, and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai—returned with renewed determination.
They swept past opponents in the group stages and crushed Côte d’Ivoire 3-0 in the final, dropping just one set during the entire group round.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian women’s team, powered by Ajoke Ojomu, Kabirat Ayoola, and Aishat Rabiu, also proved unbeatable, defeating Benin Republic, Ghana, and Guinea to retain their regional crown.
“We came prepared. Reclaiming this title on home ground is special,” said Taiwo Mati after the final.
The 2025 ITTF Africa Championship West Regionals featured ten participating countries. The top three teams in each category qualify for the continental finals in Rwanda this October.
The singles segment of the tournament began on Friday with intense matchups. Côte d’Ivoire’s defending champion Oba Kizito faces stiff competition from Nigeria’s Kuti and Mati, along with formidable contenders from Togo and Benin Republic.
In an early singles upset, Matthew Fabunmi of Nigeria lost narrowly (3-2) to Atanda Adou of Benin in Group 11. However, Guinea’s Maret Camara turned heads by topping Group 9 with a clean 3-0 sweep against Ghana’s James Marfo.
In the women’s singles, Nigeria’s stars have already secured knockout spots, with Ojomu, Ayoola, and Rabiu all winning their groups convincingly.
The tournament concludes Saturday, July 19, when both men’s and women’s singles champions will be crowned.
