Team Nigeria will start their title defense at the 2024 ITTF West Africa Regional Championships in Lome, Togo from April 25 to 27. Matthew Kuti, a teenage sensation, will captain the squad.
Kuti, who won two medals at the 13th African Games in Ghana, will compete for the first time at the regional competition, which acts as a qualifier for the October 2024 African Championships in Ethiopia.
Kuti will face experienced players like former champion Oba Oba Kizito of Cote d’Ivoire and homeboy Fanny Kokou, in Togo.
But the Lagos State champion will not be alone in Lome as he has the likes of Muiz Adegoke, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Samuel Boboye, and Matthew Fabunmi as part of the men’s team.
Along with Ajoke Ojomu and three young talents, Kabirat Ayooola, Aisha Rabiu, and Ize Sezue, Hope Udoaka, another medallist from the African Games, will serve as the team’s captain.
Dotun Omoniyi, the head coach of the team at the 13th African Games in Ghana, will be replacing acting national coach Segun Toriola.
In Lomé, 32 men and 29 women from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and host, Togo, will participate in four events (team and singles for men and women).
Assou Atarou, Desire Akakpo, Elias, Agbodjan, and returnee Mawussi Agbetoglo will join Kokou, who will captain the home team.
The host nation’s women’s team also has Eli Akouto Amegee, Fanida Ayoko Amah, Golda Kayi Amah, Celine Mouzou, and Light Senami Maella Avodagbe in their ranks.
The East African Regional Championships will take place in Kampala, Uganda, and 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 events (team and men’s and women’s singles).
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