Nigeria Absent as African Youths Gather in Botswana for ITTF Championships

Nigeria is notably missing from the 2024 ITTF Africa Youth Championships currently being held in Gaborone, Botswana. Despite its prominent position as a leading African team, Nigeria is not participating in this significant event.

In the 2023 edition held in Agadir, Morocco, the Nigerian team was able to compete thanks to financial support from Friends of Table Tennis, who funded their travel. However, despite qualifying for the 2023 ITTF World Youth Championships, the team was unable to attend due to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation’s (NTTF) failure to secure the necessary backing from the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.

This year’s championships, which began on Monday, July 15, are historic for Botswana as they host one of Africa’s premier table tennis tournaments for the first time. The Botho University Hall in Gaborone is the venue for this high-profile event.

Botswana, having previously hosted regional events, is excited about the opportunity to host such a prestigious continental championship. Motswagole Kudzanani, President of the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA), highlighted that the event will serve as a platform for the country's growth in the sport. He remarked, “Hosting provides a platform to build our capacity and expose our athletes to international standards. It also increases our brand visibility, showcasing our capabilities and helping us identify areas for growth.”

This year’s championships see a larger number of participating countries compared to the 2023 edition. Teams from Botswana, Congo DRC, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Benin Republic, Guinea, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Rwanda, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are taking part.

Additionally, the week-long tournament serves as the African qualifiers for the 2024 ITTF World Youth Championships, which will be held in Helsingborg, Sweden, in November.