Matthew Kuti, Muiz Adegoke,  Abdulbasit Abdulfatai and other members of Nigeria’s gold medal-winning team at the 2024 ITTF Africa Championships, all shined during the opener of the 1st  Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championship which served-off yesterday in Lagos. 

With 26 Nigerian teams and visiting teams from Togo and Benin Republic, the competition has been fierce from the group stages, featuring young talents competing alongside their senior counterparts.

Starting Friday, November 1, the knockout stage will begin, separating the contenders from the pretenders, leading up to the tournament’s climax on Saturday, November 2.

Spectators all filled with excitement after seeing several table tennis stars showcased their talent.  

Tournament referee John Peters expressed his enthusiasm, noting the high turnout and the eagerness of the teams jostling for glory. He also commended the sponsors for their support for the game, highlighting the sport’s significance in Nigeria while giving kudos to stars like Aruna Quadri, Funke Oshonaike and host of others. 

Sponsored by the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, an initiative of Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru and his wife, Mrs. Feyisola, this tournament is Africa’s first Mixed Team Table Tennis Open Championships, part of the Foundation’s youth empowerment program. 

The tournament features 28 teams, divided into eight groups of three or four teams each, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.