Nigeria’s table tennis sensation, Matthew Kuti, has
once again demonstrated why he is one of the continent’s rising stars. The
teenager has been included in the star-studded line-up for the 2025 African
Cup, set to take place in Tunis, Tunisia, from February 25 to 27.
Kuti, who has won four of the five major tournaments
in Nigeria and has been the most consistent player in the country, was listed
by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) due to his growing profile in the
sport.
The Lagos State-born athlete recently added the Molade
Okoya-Thomas Cup Men’s Singles title to his collection and will now compete
against some of Africa’s finest stars in the Tunisian capital, aiming to secure
a spot for the 2025 ITTF World Cup in Macao, China, in April.
Kuti’s rising profile was evident when he bulldozed
his way into the final of the Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup, outperforming top stars
and former champions. Having competed at the junior level of Africa’s
longest-running table tennis tournament in the past, the teenager dazzled fans
and dignitaries last weekend with his exceptional display, earning the title at
the 56th edition of the competition.
Since making his senior debut at the 2023 African
Games in Accra, Ghana, Kuti has remained an integral member of the Nigerian
men’s national team. He featured in the 2024 and 2025 African Championships in
Tunis and Addis Ababa, where he earned a silver medal with the team.
The unassuming and fans’ favourite Kuti will head to
Tunis to compete against both established and youthful players in Africa, vying
for one of the four slots available in the Men’s Singles. He will team up with
the Nigerian contingent, coached by N legendary Segun Toriola and Dotun
Omoniyi.
The tournament in Tunis will provide African players
the opportunity to be part of the ITTF World Cup, alongside regulars like
Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar, and Dina Meshref. Semifinalists in the Men’s and
Women’s Singles will secure their spots for the event in Macao, China, in April
this year.
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