Kuti & Ojomu Crowned at ITTF West Regionals
By: IDNN Sports Desk
The 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championship concluded in style on Saturday in Lagos, with Matthew Kuti defending his men’s singles title and Ajoke Ojomu claiming her maiden singles victory, both leading Nigeria to a dominant display in the competition.
🏓 Kuti’s Second Consecutive Singles Title
In the men’s final, Kuti faced off against Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, his unseeded Nigerian teammate, in what promised to be a thrilling contest. Kuti, who had lost the opening set 11–9, stormed back to dominate the next four sets, clinching the title with a 4–1 victory (9–11, 11–6, 11–7, 11–7, 11–7).
This victory marked Kuti’s second consecutive title at the ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, further solidifying his status as one of Nigeria’s most formidable table tennis players.
> “It’s a great feeling to defend my title here at home,” Kuti said after the win. “Abdulbasit gave me a tough fight, but I’m glad to have come through.”
Ojomu Claims First Singles Crown
In the women’s final, Ajoke Ojomu put on an impressive performance to claim the women’s singles title, defeating Sukurat Aiyelabegan 4–0 (11–7, 11–8, 11–5, 14–12). This victory marked a significant milestone in Ojomu’s career, as it was her first-ever singles title after two previous runner-up finishes in the past editions.
Ojomu had already helped Nigeria’s women’s team secure the women’s team title with a dominant 3–0 win over Benin Republic in the final, making it a clean sweep for Nigeria in both singles and team events.
Clean Sweep for Nigeria
With the victories in both the men’s and women’s singles, Nigeria completed a clean sweep of the event. The men’s team, led by Kuti, Taiwo Mati, and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, triumphed in the men’s team event, defeating Ivory Coast 3–0 in the final. Meanwhile, the women’s team, powered by Ojomu and teammates, delivered another flawless 3–0 win over Benin Republic.
The tournament served as crucial qualifiers for the 2025 African Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, where Nigeria will look to continue its dominance on the continent.
Eyes on Kigali
With the next major tournament on the horizon, these performances highlight Nigeria’s table tennis prowess and set the stage for an exciting campaign in Kigali, where both Kuti and Ojomu will look to build on their regional success.
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