Hostilities commence on Friday, December 20, as the 2nd Daniel Ford Elite Youth Table Tennis Invitational Championships kick off at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Following a successful two-day coaching clinic, players will put their new skills to the test. 2023 African Games gold medalist Matthew Kuti begins his quest to become the first player to win back-to-back titles at this tournament, organized by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and funded by UK-based Daniel Ford International.

Kuti, who has been in excellent form recently, will rely on his experience and exposure from several international tournaments this year, including the Africa Championships in Ethiopia. He anticipates stiff competition from perennial rivals like Muiz Adegoke and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.

The U-19 event promises excitement as Kuti faces a star-studded lineup of players over the two-day tournament. Determined not to let his guard down, Kuti is prepared to take on regular opponents, especially Muiz Adegoke, who might be paired with him in the doubles event.

Adegoke, who has yet to fulfill his potential at the national level, hopes to replicate his doubles success against the tournament’s top players. “I can’t wait to get on the table because this is not going to be a one-sided tournament. More young players are emerging from several continental tournaments in Botswana,” he said.

A determined Adegoke admitted he would elevate his game this year to challenge favorites like Kuti. “I am hoping to make it to the final this year, and anything can happen when I get there. It is not going to be easy because everybody is playing well, but I am confident I can turn the tide against anyone on the table,” he added.

For the national coach, Dotun Omoniyi, the staging of the clinic would make the tournament competitive this year as the players never hide their intention to humble one another.

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African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF-Africa) has entered into a Strategic Quadrennial Agreement (SQA) with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for the period 2025 to 2028. This partnership underscores a unified commitment to advancing table tennis in the continent of Africa.

The agreement, which promises enhanced funding, outlines collaborative efforts between ITTF Africa and ITTF to promote and develop table tennis in Africa.

The signing ceremony took place in Chengdu, China, with ITTF Africa President Wahid Enitan Oshodi and ITTF President Petra Sörling in attendance.

After formalizing the agreements, Oshodi stated, “The objectives outlined in the SQA align with the new vision and direction of ITTF Africa under my leadership. We will work closely with the ITTF to ensure these objectives are fully achieved in Africa.”

Sörling added, “The Strategic Quadrennial Agreement marks a pivotal moment for our global table tennis family. By aligning our efforts and resources with the unique needs and aspirations of Africa and its member associations, we can elevate the sport to new heights.

These agreements reflect our shared vision for excellence, development, and inclusivity in every corner of the world.”

The agreement aims to streamline cooperation between ITTF Africa and ITTF, focusing on key areas such as enhancing continental events to attract greater participation and visibility,

promoting grassroots development to nurture the next generation of talents, advancing the commercialization and professionalization of table tennis activities, fostering sustainability through environmentally conscious practices, strengthening governance structures for greater efficiency and accountability, and expanding social responsibility initiatives using table tennis as a tool for positive change.

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Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub, is set to come alive as the best youth table tennis stars gather for the second edition of the Daniel Ford Elite Youth Invitational Championships.

The event is scheduled from December 18 to 21 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Organized by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and funded by UK-based Daniel Ford International, this year’s edition promises to be even more exciting.

Participants will undergo a two-day clinic led by national coaches, including Dotun Omoniyi, to prepare for the tournament, which kicks-off on Friday, December 20, with qualifiers in the U-15 and U-19 categories.

Adesoji Tayo, Vice President of NTTF, highlighted the success of the inaugural edition, which inspired the sponsor to continue their support and include the clinic. “We are grateful to Daniel Ford International for their continued sponsorship, especially with the addition of the clinic to help players prepare for the main event. The clinic will update players on the latest techniques and allow them to test their skills against their peers before the tournament begins. We are excited that some participants from the first edition have made it to the national team and represented Nigeria in major tournaments like the African Championships and Games. We hope to see more talent emerge this year,” he said.

This year’s U-19 title battle will feature national team stars Matthew Kuti, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, and Muiz Adegoke.

In the U-15 division, 32 players (16 boys and 16 girls) have been invited to compete. The U-19 category promises to be thrilling, with many national team stars in action at this two-day event, which also serves as the federation’s end-of-year tournament.

For the system of play, the invited players will be drawn into four groups of 4 or 5 players, each with round-robin matches within each group. Two players from each group will qualify for the knockout stage quarterfinals.