By Vivian Ahanmisi
Defending champions Nigeria and Togo are preparing to retain their titles at the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships in Lagos from July 16 to 19.
The event will take place at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, located within the Teslim Balogun Stadium complex in Lagos.
Nigeria, the region’s most decorated team, will defend the women’s team title it successfully retained in Lomé last year.
This confirmation was made on Sunday by International Table Tennis Africa (ITTF Africa).
Togo will pursue back-to-back wins in the men’s team event, after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nigeria in the 2024 final.
That 2024 triumph came on home soil, spurred by strong local support from enthusiastic fans.
This year, Togo faces tough opposition from Nigeria and other countries including Benin Republic, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Other participating nations include Burkina Faso, Guinea, Liberia, Niger Republic, and Sierra Leone.
In the singles event, Nigeria’s top-ranked player, Matthew Kuti, will seek to retain his men’s singles crown.
Kuti won his first regional title last year in Lomé, defeating Oba Oba Kizito of Côte d’Ivoire 4-1 in the final.
Victory this year would make him the first male player to win consecutive singles titles at the tournament.
However, the women’s singles title is wide open due to the absence of reigning champion, Nigeria’s Hope Udoaka.
Her absence provides a golden opportunity for a new female champion to emerge from the competition.
The championship will also serve as a qualifier for the 2025 African Championships in Rwanda later this year.
With home advantage and the largest squad, Nigeria is eyeing a return to the top in the men’s team event.
Nigeria narrowly lost the men’s team title to Togo in last year’s hard-fought final in Lomé.
This year’s edition has seen increased participation, with over ten countries confirming their attendance.
This marks a rise from previous editions, which recorded a maximum of nine participating countries.
Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Niger Republic are returning to the championship after years of absence.
All eyes will be on Nigeria, a country that has dominated both men’s and women’s events in the region.
Ferdinand Sonou, ITTF Africa West Region Vice President, shared his excitement ahead of the event.
He said, “I’m thrilled we’re back in Nigeria for the regional championships. It’s always a favourite for visiting teams.
“Nigeria has a strong reputation for hosting international events, and teams look forward to the experience.
“This tournament signals the start of a packed international table tennis season in Lagos.
“I’m confident we’ll witness the rise of new talents alongside the established stars of the sport.
“The passionate Lagos crowd will certainly bring energy to the matches.”
Sonou also praised ITTF Africa President, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, for his unwavering support for the championships.
He noted that the growing number of teams reflects ITTF Africa’s commitment to developing the sport across the region.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2025 championship promises intense action and top-tier table tennis talent. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
