Beninese table tennis star Salifou Abdel-Kader held off a spirited comeback from Nigerian home favourite Azeez Solanke to secure qualification for the Round of 16 at the WTT Contender Lagos 2026.
Sports247 reports that the thrilling Round of 32 encounter produced moments of intense competition at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, with the Benin Republic star eventually denying Solanke a dramatic turnaround in front of the home crowd.
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Abdel-Kader showed composure and experience throughout the contest, especially during the closing stages when Solanke attempted to mount a late comeback backed by strong support from Nigerian fans inside the arena.
Despite the defeat, Solanke earned praise for his fighting spirit and determination against one of Africa’s experienced table tennis players, delivering a performance that kept supporters engaged throughout the match.
The victory sees Abdel-Kader advance into the Round of 16, where he will face the winner between India’s Payas Jain and Portugal’s João Geraldo.
The WTT Contender Lagos tournament continues to attract top talents from across Africa, Europe, and Asia, further strengthening Lagos’ growing reputation as a major destination for international table tennis competitions.
The competition, taking place in Nigeria’s commercial capital, has already delivered several exciting matches, surprise results, and standout performances from both established stars and emerging talents.
For Abdel-Kader, the hard-fought victory represents another important step in his campaign as he aims to make a deep run in the tournament against a highly competitive international field.
Meanwhile, Solanke’s performance, despite ending in defeat, provided valuable experience for the Nigerian player as he continues to develop against strong international opposition on home soil.
Attention will now shift toward the Round of 16 clash, where Abdel-Kader will hope to continue his impressive run and secure a place in the quarterfinals of the prestigious WTT Contender Lagos event.
