Nigeria’s fine start to the 2025 ITTF African Championships came to an abrupt and disappointing end on Tuesday as all ten of the country’s ...
Nigeria’s fine start to the 2025 ITTF African Championships came to an abrupt and disappointing end on Tuesday as all ten of the country’s representatives in the singles categories were eliminated in a dramatic day of mixed fortunes at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Rades in Tunisia, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
What began as a continuation of Monday’s perfect run ended in a heavy clear-out that saw even the nation’s captain, Olajide Omotayo, crash out in the round of 16.
After recording a flawless 9/9 progression from the opening round, expectations were high for the Nigerian contingent heading into the round of 32.
However, the day quickly turned sour as the early fixtures exposed the gulf between Nigeria’s hopefuls and their North African and Central African opponents, who demonstrated superior tactical discipline and composure under pressure.
Matthew Kuti provided one of the few bright moments of the morning session as he opened proceedings with a comfortable 4–0 victory over Ivory Coast’s Jean Pierre Bayala.
The 20-year-old was dominant from the start, winning 11–7, 11–2, 11–4, 11–8 to book his place in the last 16.
His aggressive topspins and sharp counterattacks were too much for the Ivorian to handle. But Kuti’s win would be one of only four for Nigeria on a day that otherwise unravelled.
In contrast, Aishat Rabiu’s campaign came to a quick end in the women’s singles. The 13-year-old fell 4–0 to Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana, losing 9–11, 10–12, 8–11, 7–11 in straight games despite showing flashes of promise in the early exchanges.
Her defeat was followed by another blow in the men’s draw, where Taiwo Mati, returning to international action after nearly three years, was overpowered by Egypt’s Badr Mostafa.
The Egyptian displayed clinical precision to claim a 4–1 win (11–6, 10–12, 11–7, 11–8, 11–5), leaving Mati struggling to replicate the rhythm that carried him through the previous round.
It was no better for Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, who lost 4–1 to Algeria’s Bella Maheidine after a tightly contested start.
Abdulfatai took the opening game 11–9 but failed to build on his early advantage as the Algerian grew stronger, taking the next four sets 12–10, 11–9, 11–6, 11–9 to secure passage into the last 16.
In the women’s division, Ajoke Ojomu, one of Nigeria’s brightest hopes, was handed a humbling 4–0 defeat by Algeria’s Jade Morice, who controlled the rallies and dictated tempo throughout the match, winning 14–12, 11–8, 11–6, 11–6.
Team captain Omotayo looked to restore some pride later in the day and did so briefly with a commanding 4–0 win over South Africa’s Liam Beukes (11–9, 11–3, 11–6, 11–6) in the round of 32.
The victory carried Nigeria’s hopes into the afternoon session, but his elimination in the next round capped a disappointing end to the country’s singles campaign.
Facing Cameroon’s Ylane Batix in the round of 16, Omotayo fought valiantly in a match that swung from end to end but ultimately fell short in a seven-game thriller, losing 3–4 (11–6, 7–11, 7–11, 11–8, 11–9, 5–11, 13–15).
Elsewhere, young Muizz Adegoke was brushed aside 4–0 by Benin’s Abdel-Kader Salifou (11–3, 11–6, 11–9, 11–5), while Kuti, who had impressed earlier, was stopped in his tracks by Egypt’s Mohamed Elbeiali.
Despite a brave effort that saw him take the second game 11–8, the Nigerian eventually succumbed 4–1 (2–11, 11–13, 11–8, 8–11, 12–14).
In the women’s draw, Sukurat Aiyelabegan and Favour Ojo both reached the round of 16 but could not progress further.
Aiyelabegan, who had earlier defeated Algeria’s Houda Taguercifi 4–1 (11–3, 11–7, 9–11, 13–11, 11–2), was swept aside 4–0 by Africa’s top seed, Egypt’s Hana Goda (11–4, 11–3, 11–4, 11–2).
Ojo, who overcame Cameroon’s Lorenza Koulaouinhi 4–2 in the round of 32, bowed out after a 4–1 loss to another Egyptian, Farida Badawy (5–11, 8–11, 11–3, 8–11, 5–11).
The day’s results marked a painful reversal of fortunes for Team Nigeria, who had entered the second day of singles matches full of confidence after Monday’s clean sweep.
All ten Nigerians were eliminated before the close of play, meaning the country will have no singles representatives in the quarter-finals for the first time in over a decade.
It was a sobering outcome that underlined Nigeria’s growing struggle to maintain its traditional dominance in African table tennis, particularly in the absence of top-ranked star Quadri Aruna. While the team showed flashes of potential, especially through emerging players like Kuti and Rabiu, the gulf in experience and technical precision between Nigeria and the leading North African nations proved decisive.
The focus will now shift to mixed doubles events after also being eliminated in the men’s and women’s doubles, where Nigeria will hope to salvage some pride and reassert their competitiveness on the continental stage.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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