Nigeria Table Tennis Federation president Adesoji Tayo says hosting the 2028 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships will provide a major opportunity to expose the country’s emerging players to elite continental competition.
Nigeria recently secured the hosting rights after defeating Tunisia 23-15 in a vote at the ITTF Africa Annual General Meeting in Tangier, Morocco, with Lagos set to welcome the continent’s leading players in 2028.
Adesoji believes staging the tournament at home will help address some of the financial and logistical challenges that can prevent promising Nigerian players from competing at major international events.
He said the country has close to 50 talented young players, many of whom are already competing against senior players despite their age, highlighting the depth of talent available to Nigerian table tennis.
According to the federation chief, the performances of young male and female players reflect the potential within the country’s development system. He also pointed to two junior players who won a youth championship in Ghana as evidence of the progress being made.
Adesoji said hosting the continental championship would give more homegrown athletes the chance to measure themselves against Africa’s best without facing the same travel and financial barriers that often limit participation abroad.
The tournament is expected to provide a platform for Nigeria’s emerging talents to gain valuable experience, build confidence and demonstrate their ability on a major stage.
Nigeria’s hosting success also comes with another continental assignment, as the country is scheduled to stage the 2027 African Para Table Tennis Championships.
For Adesoji, the 2028 event represents more than an opportunity to organise a major tournament: it is a chance to bring promising players closer to top-level competition and strengthen the future of Nigerian table tennis.
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