New Era Begins as ITTF Africa Youth Cup Debuts in Lagos
A new chapter in African table tennis unfolds as the inaugural ITTF Africa Youth Cup takes centre stage on Monday, August 4, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria.
As the final event in the 2025 Festival of Table Tennis, this two-day tournament will showcase the continent’s brightest U-15 and U-19 talents, competing for ITTF ranking points and attractive prize money.
Over the past three weeks, Lagos has played host to three major international tournaments ; the ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, WTT Contender Lagos, and the ITTF Africa Youth Championships. The ITTF Africa Youth Cup now brings this thrilling series to a close, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s development across Africa.
The roots of this growth trace back to 2013, when then-Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, approved the hosting of the Lagos International Sports Classics, with table tennis as a flagship event. This visionary move laid the foundation for Lagos to become a global hub for table tennis, evolving into a host city for the ITTF Challenge Series and now the WTT Contender Lagos, currently in its third edition.
The newly launched ITTF Africa Youth Cup is designed to nurture the next generation of African table tennis stars, providing a platform for young boys and girls to showcase their skills and launch their careers on the international stage. Fully endorsed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the event will contribute to players’ official ITTF rankings.
In recognition of Fashola’s pivotal role in advancing sports development in Africa, the tournament’s trophy has been named the BRF Cup, celebrating his enduring legacy and commitment to youth and sports.
A total of 76 players -;45 boys and 31 girls from 14 countries will compete in this landmark event, which brings to a climax three weeks of exhilarating table tennis action in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.
