Reigning national champion Muiz Adegoke faces a major title defense today as he battles former winner Matthew Kuti and defending champion Abdulbasit Abdulfatai at the 3rd Daniel Ford Elite Youth Table Tennis Tournament.
The high-stakes competition serves off at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall within the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. Adegoke enters the arena in exceptional form, having recently secured victories at the Governor Diri Top 16 Cup in Bayelsa and a high-profile club tournament in Lagos against some of the country’s most elite competitors.
Despite his recent dominance, Adegoke seeks to rectify a fluctuating history at this specific event, where he failed to advance past the group stages in 2024 after a top-four finish in 2023. This tournament serves as a critical opportunity for Adegoke to reclaim his recently lost position within the national team hierarchy.
To succeed, he must navigate past Kuti, who is eager to avenge a recent 4–0 loss to Adegoke in Bayelsa, and Abdulfatai, the Kwara-born southpaw looking to snap a recent slump and retain his crown.
The U-19 division expects intense competition as African Youth Games gold medalist Matthew Fabunmi and rising talent Usman Ayoola challenge the established favorites. Meanwhile, the girls’ category will feature a heated rivalry as defending champion Kabirat Ayoola meets previous titleholder Sukurat Aiyelabegan and top contenders Aishat Rabiu and Ise Sezuo.
For the first time, the tournament includes a U-12 category to showcase emerging grassroots talent, solidifying the event’s status as a core fixture on the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation calendar.
The tournament structure features 16 elite players in both the U-19 and U-15 divisions for boys and girls. Organizers have divided the participants into four groups of four, with only the top two finishers from each pool progressing to the high-pressure knockout rounds. This two-day event follows a comprehensive coaching clinic held earlier this week, ensuring all athletes compete at their technical and physical peak.
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