Team Nigeria’s championship defense will get underway from April 25–27 in the 2024 ITTF West Africa Regional Championships in Lome, Togo, under the leadership of teenage phenom Matthew Kuti.
Kuti, who won two medals in the 13th African Games in Ghana, will compete for the first time in the regional competition, which acts as a qualifier for the October 2024 African Championships in Ethiopia.
Kuti will take on seasoned competitors such as Togo’s hometown hero Fanny Kokou and Cote d’Ivoire’s previous champion Oba Oba Kizito.
The men’s team, which includes Muiz Adegoke, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Samuel Boboye, and Matthew Fabunmi, will ensure that the Lagos State champion is not alone in Lome.
The women’s squad will be led by Hope Udoaka, a medallist from the African Games, Ajoke Ojomu, and three young talents, Ize Sezue, Aisha Rabiu, and Kabirat Ayooola.
At the 13th African Games in Ghana, Dotun Omoniyi, the acting national coach Segun Toriola’s assistant, will be in charge of the team.
Four events (team and singles for men and women) will be held in Lomé, with 32 men and 29 women from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and host nation, Togo.
Assou Atarou, Desire Akakpo, Elias, Agbodjan, and returnee Mawussi Agbetoglo will join Kokou, who will captain the home team.
Eli Akouto Amegee, Fanida Ayoko Amah, Golda Kayi Amah, Celine Mouzou, and Light Senami Maella Avodagbe are more members of the host country’s women’s team.
The East African Regional Championships will be held in Kampala, Uganda, and will feature 41 men and 29 women representing Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and host Uganda.
From April 22 to April 25, they will take part in four competitions (team and men’s and women’s singles).