The 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships is set to break new ground with over 10 countries confirmed to participate, surpassing the previous record of nine nations. The tournament will take place from July 16 to 19 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
This year’s edition promises intense competition as powerhouses Nigeria and Togo gear up to defend their titles. Nigeria, the region’s most successful team, will look to retain the women’s team title, while Togo aims to defend the men’s team crown it claimed with a thrilling 3–2 victory over Nigeria in the 2024 final in Lomé.
The list of participating countries includes Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger Republic, Sierra Leone, and host nation Nigeria. Notably, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Niger Republic return to the tournament after years of absence, signaling renewed regional interest in table tennis.
In the singles events, Nigeria’s top-ranked player, Matthew Kuti, will defend his men’s singles title. Kuti made history last year in Lomé by defeating Ivory Coast’s Oba Oba Kizito 4–1 to claim his maiden regional crown. A successful title defense would see him become the first male player to win back-to-back singles titles in the competition’s history.
The women’s singles title will be wide open this year, as defending champion Hope Udoaka of Nigeria will not be competing, creating an opportunity for a new champion to emerge.
Beyond regional bragging rights, the tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 African Championships, scheduled to be held later this year in Rwanda.
Ferdinand Sonou, Vice President of the ITTF Africa West Region and former president of the Benin Table Tennis Federation, hailed Nigeria’s hosting capabilities and the growing popularity of the sport in the region.
“Nigeria has a proven track record of hosting international competitions, and teams always look forward to playing here,” Sonou said. “This tournament marks the beginning of a series of international events in Lagos, and I believe we’ll witness the emergence of new stars alongside the established ones.”
He also praised ITTF Africa President Wahid Oshodi for his unwavering support, adding that the surge in participating nations highlights the increasing strength and appeal of table tennis across West Africa.
With Lagos set to welcome a record number of teams, the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships is poised to be one of the most exciting and competitive editions yet.
