In a thrilling display of skill, Nigeria’s Abdulfatai Abdulbasit and Mathew Kuti clinched the gold medal in the U19 boys’ doubles at the ITTF 2025 Africa Youth Championship.
The event, hosted at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall in Lagos’ l Balogun Stadium, showcased Africa’s finest young talent over eight days, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The Nigerian pair outmaneuvered Tunisia’s Essid Wassim and Khaloufi Mohamed, securing a 3-1 victory with scores of 12-10, 11-7, 12-10, and 12-10. Their synergy and precision proved too strong for the Tunisian duo, despite a valiant effort from their opponents.
“This win reflects our months of hard work and dedication,” Kuti told NAN.
“We’re honored to bring this gold home for Nigeria and inspire the next generation of players.”
The championship victory not only highlights Nigeria’s rising dominance in table tennis but also earns Abdulbasit and Kuti a spot at the 2025 World Youth Championships in Romania. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Abdelshakour Malak and Zaki Nour also claimed a 3-0 win (11-8, 11-3, 11-8) against Uganda’s Nakawala Jemimah and Nangonzi Judith in another standout match.
“We’re deeply grateful to our coaches and supporters,” Kuti added.
“This moment fuels our drive to keep pushing the boundaries of excellence in table tennis.”
