The Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has announced a 10-member team, mostly junior players, for the 2024 ITTF African Championships in Addis Ababa from October 12-19.
The final list, released by the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), includes experienced stars such as Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, Ajoke Ojomu and Fatimo Bello.
They are joined by promising young talents such as Matthew Kuti, Muiz Adegoke, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Aishat Rabiu, Hope Udoaka and Aziza Sezuo.
Matthew Kuti, who made his senior debut at the 2023 African Games in Ghana and competed at the 2023 African Championships in Tunisia, is the West African champion and will be making his second appearance at the continental event.
Conversely, Adegoke and Abdulfatai will make their African Championship debuts after leading the men's team to victory at the 2024 West African Regional Championships in Lomé, Togo.
Esperanza Udoaka
Udoaka, West African women's champion; Rabiu and Sezuo, products of the NTTF's grassroots efforts, will also make their first appearance at the African Championship.
These players participated in Daniel Ford's inaugural tournament and demonstrated exceptional skills to win the hearts of national handlers.
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NTTF Vice President Adesoji Tayo explained that including youth players is part of the federation's strategy to expose them early to top-level competition.
“A few years ago we decided to discover new players and we are happy that some of them are moving forward. They represented the country in the regional tournament in Togo and competed against the best players in the region. This is another opportunity for them to gain experience at the African Championship. We don't expect too much from them because they still need to gain more confidence. They have experienced players like Aruna, Omotayo, Bello and Ojomu to learn from. We hope they can hold their own against some of the best players in Africa,” Adesoji said.
Exciting tournament
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Table Tennis Federation (ETTF) has promised an exciting tournament that will combine culture and sport.
ETTF President Tesfaye Bizane hopes to use the event to showcase Ethiopia's rich cultural heritage.
“Hosting the tournament after 24 years offers a unique opportunity to showcase Ethiopia's cultural heritage and history, making the event more than just a sporting competition,” said Mr Bizane.
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“Visitors can expect a warm welcome and a vibrant cultural experience in Ethiopia. As the birthplace of coffee, you will have the opportunity to taste authentic coffee directly from its source. Guests can explore several attractions, including the National Museum, which houses a 3.2 million-year-old fossil, zoos, aquariums, the African Union headquarters, and the Adwa Memorial Museum.
This rich combination of history, culture and hospitality promises a memorable experience,” Bizane added.