Eko Hot Blog reports that African Games medalist Matthew Kuti and Hope Udoaka from Nigeria, demonstrated their prowess against seasoned competitors as they led the national champions to victory, clinching the title of West African champions at the conclusion of the 2024 ITTF West Africa Regional Championships in Lome, Togo, over the weekend.
A total of 32 men and 29 women hailing from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and the host nation Togo participated in the three-day tournament, competing across four events including men’s and women’s teams and singles.
The event was organized with the aim of selecting teams to represent the region at the upcoming African Championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, later this year.
Although he didn’t perform at his peak in the team event, leading to Togo’s victory over Nigeria and the loss of their regional champion title, Kuti showcased flawless skill in the singles event.
Nigerian table tennis player, Mattew Kuti
He defeated several seasoned players, notably securing victory against the former regional champion, Oba Oba Kizito of Ivory Coast, in the final match.
Starting his campaign in a group where he only dropped a game against Benin Republic’s Kossi Akakpo, Kuti breezed into the knockout round to right his wrong in the team event.
In the round of 16, he defeated Togo’s national champion, Kokou Fanny, with a decisive 3-0 victory, securing his spot in the quarterfinals.
There, he narrowly overcame his compatriot, Matthew Fabunmi, with a 4-2 win, setting the stage for a semi-final showdown against Mawussi Agbetoglo of Togo, who had previously defeated him in the team event.
Hope Udoaka in action at the 2024 ITTF W’African Championship
He avenged the earlier defeat by defeating the Togolese 4-2 to reach the final, where he faced former champion Oba Oba Kizito.
Demonstrating his champion’s spirit, Kuti delivered an impressive performance, overwhelming Kizito with a commanding 4-1 victory to claim the title of the new regional champion.
His triumph ensured that Nigeria retained the title, previously won by Taiwo Mati in 2023.
Udoaka asserted her dominance in the women’s singles, securing a convincing 4-0 victory over her compatriot Ajoke Ojomu to clinch the title.
In the team event, Nigerian ladies led by national champion Hope Udoaka dominated without dropping a game and beat Ghana 3-0 in the final to retain the title.
The host team delighted the fans by clinching a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nigeria in the men’s team event, establishing themselves as the regional powerhouse.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors…
Two men have been killed in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State,…
Six men connected to Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba are set to stand trial…