ITTF Africa West Regional Championship Serves off In Lagos
The 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships Wednesday served off in Lagos at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The opening day saw many players from across West African countries displaying their good knowledge of the ping pong game to the delight of the fans, with one of the most interesting one coming from the duo of Audrey Diama and Eve Ndah from Cote d’ Ivoire who despite not securing a win in the women’s event impressed with their performances signifying a sign of brighter future for them.
As the championship enters Day 2, all eyes are now on the finals of the team event which takes centre stage today.
Nigeria, as expected, maintained its dominance in Group 1 with commanding victories over Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. The trio of Matthew Kuti, Taiwo Mati, and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai showed class in their various games, making sure that the host nation is in firm control of the Group After a walkover win against Liberia, the Nigerian men’s team returned to defeat the Oba Oba Kizito-led Ivorian side 3-1, securing a spot in the semi-finals.
However , the battle for supremacy in Group 2, featuring Ghana, Togo, Guinea, and Benin Republic remains intense, with several matches still undecided.
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony featured a brief march-past and speeches from dignitaries with teams from Ghana, Benin Republic, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Burkina Faso adding colour to the event.
In his opening remark, Ferdinand Sonou, Vice President of ITTF Africa West, expressed heartfelt appreciation to Nigeria and Lagos State for hosting the event.
“I want to sincerely thank the Nigerian and Lagos State Governments and the entire organizing committee for their tremendous effort and unwavering commitment to making this event a success,”
“These championships are more than just a sporting competition. They are a celebration of unity, diversity, and sportsmanship values that lie at the heart of the West African Table Tennis Organization.”
He added :“This edition in Lagos marks a significant milestone in our journey. It reflects our determination to promote table tennis, preserve our cultural heritage, and inspire the next generation of athletes to push beyond their limits while honouring our traditions.”
In his welcome address, President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Ishaku Tikon, represented by Secretary General Olusoji Akanmu, thanked the Lagos State Government for its continued support. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leading the growth of table tennis across the West African region.
