Kuti leads Nigeria team to ITTF regional tourney in Lome
Teenage sensation Matthew Kuti will be the cynosure of all eyes when Nigeria begin its title defence at the 2024 ITTF West Africa Regional Championships taking place in Lome, Togo on April 25 to 27.
Kuti, a double medallist at the 13th African Games in Ghana will be making his debut at the regional tournament which serves as the qualifiers for the 2024 African Championships will be held in Ethiopia come October.
Touted as title contender in Togo, Kuti will face a Herculean task against experienced players like former champion Oba Oba Kizito of Cote d’Ivoire and homeboy Fanny Kokou.
But the Lagos State champion will not be alone in Lome as he has the likes of Muiz Adegoke, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, Samuel Boboye, and Matthew Fabunmi as part of the men’s team.
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Another African Games medallist Hope Udoaka will lead the women’s team alongside Ajoke Ojomu and three junior stars – Kabirat Ayooola, Aisha Rabiu, and Ize Sezue.
The team will be handled by Dotun Omoniyi who was an assistant to acting national coach Segun Toriola at the 13th African Games in Ghana.
In Lomé, 32 men and 29 women from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and host – Togo will slug it out in four events (team and singles for men and women).
Kokou will spearhead the home team he will be joined by returnee Mawussi Agbetoglo; Assou Atarou, Desire Akakpo, Elias Agbodjan, while the host nation women team has Eli Akouto Amegee, Fanida Ayoko Amah, Golda Kayi Amah, Celine Mouzou, and Light Senami Maella Avodagbe.