African Games champions Matthew Kuti and Hope Udoaka of Nigeria showed class against experienced players as the national champions emerged as the new West African champions at the 2024 ITTF West Africa Regional Championships, which concluded in Lome, Togo, at the weekend.
More than 32 men and 29 women from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal and host Togo competed in four events (men’s and women’s teams and singles) at three-day tournament organized for selected teams to represent the region at this year’s African Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Despite not performing at his best in the group event, which allowed Togo to dethrone Nigeria as regional champions, Kuti was flawless in the singles event, taking down some established players including former regional champion, Oba Oba Kizito of Aktis Ivoey, in the final.
Starting his campaign in a group where he lost only one game against Benin Republic’s Kossi Akakpo, Kuti entered the knockout round to make up for his mistake in the group event.
He demolished Togo’s national champion Kokou Fanny 3-0 in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals, where he defeated compatriot Matthew Fabunmi 4-2 to set up a semi-final clash with the player he beat in the group stage organized by Mawussi Agbetoglo of Togo.
He avenged the previous loss by defeating the Togolese 4-2 to reach the final where he faced former champion Oba Oba Kizito.
Like the true champion he was, Kuti thrashed Kizito 4-1 to be crowned the new regional champions and ensure Nigeria retain the title, which was won by Taiwo Mati in 2023.
Udoaka prevailed in the women’s singles, beating compatriot Ajoke Ojomo 4-0 to claim the title.
In the group event, the Nigerian ladies led by national champion Hope Udoaka dominated without dropping a game and beat Ghana 3-0 in the final to retain the title.
But the hosts gave fans something to cheer about with a 3-2 win over Nigeria to emerge as the regional powerhouse in the men’s team event.