Matthew Kuti made history in front of a roaring home crowd on Saturday, becoming the first West African to successfully defend the men’s singles title at the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, Bold Sports reports.
The Nigerian table tennis star defeated compatriot Abdulfatai Abdulfatai 4-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7) in a dominant display that underscored his growing legacy on the continent.
On the women’s side, Ajoke Ojomu battled past injury and nerves to claim her first regional singles crown, defeating Sukurat Aiyelabegan in straight sets (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 14-12) to complete Nigeria’s clean sweep of the singles titles at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Seven nations participated in the four-day tournament, including Ghana, Benin Republic, Guinea, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Liberia, initially billed to compete, withdrew before the competition began.
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Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in the region by sweeping both team and individual events. The men’s team—anchored by Kuti, Taiwo Mati, and Abdulbasit—avenged their 2024 final loss to Togo by tearing through the group stage, dropping just one set (ironically to Ivory Coast), and sealing the gold with a commanding 3-0 win over the Ivorians in Thursday’s final.
In the women’s team event, Ojomu led the charge, as Nigeria marched past Benin Republic, Ghana, and Guinea without dropping a tie, cementing their supremacy once again.
But the biggest headlines came from the singles finals, where Kuti and Ojomu capped Nigeria’s dream outing.
Kuti, known for his powerful forehand and tactical maturity, shrugged off an early setback in the final to win four straight sets and defend the crown he won last year.
Ojomu, who lost in last year’s final to Hope Udoaka, returned this year with a point to prove. Despite battling a leg injury in the final, she dug deep to overcome Aiyelabegan in four hard-fought sets. The final game stretched into extra points, with Ojomu roaring in celebration after sealing it 14-12.
The event also served as a qualifier for the 2025 African Championships, set to take place from October 12–19 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Speaking after the event, Ferdinand Sounou, Vice President of the ITTF Africa West Region, hailed the organization and quality of competition in Lagos.
“This year’s tournament in Lagos was a resounding success,” Sounou said. “The quality of organization and the elevated standard of play were impressive. Compared to previous editions, which were often dominated by a few countries, this year showed a remarkable improvement across the board.”
He also acknowledged the rising challenge faced by Nigerian players across the region:
“Nigerian players are no longer the untouchables they once were. The gap is closing, and the competition is intensifying. Still, Nigeria remains the top team in West Africa.”
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