Atunwon lifts Nigeria to win ITTF gold in Accra

Editor

Nigeria’s Quadri Atunwon delivered a heroic performance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, securing gold in the boys’ U19 team event at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships. His resilience ensured Nigeria retained the crown in Accra, even as Egypt stamped its authority across the tournament by sweeping three of the four team titles on offer.

The boys’ U19 final against Egypt was a rollercoaster. Nigeria trailed 2-0 after early setbacks, but Sultan Agunbiade sparked hope with a spirited win in the third game, narrowing the score to 2–1. Matthew Kuti, who had earlier lost a tight 2–3 battle to Yassin Gaber, redeemed himself with a 3–1 victory over Abdelmalk Elsayed, leveling the tie at 2–2. That set the stage for a dramatic decider between Atunwon and Gaber.

The final match had all the hallmarks of a classic. Both players traded blows in a contest of power and precision, pushing the tie to 2–2 in games. Atunwon surged ahead 8–2 in the fifth, only for Gaber to mount a stunning comeback, leveling at 8–8 and even reaching match point at 10–8. But Atunwon refused to yield. He clawed back to 10–10, and in a nail-biting finish, clinched the game 16–14 to seal Nigeria’s triumph and preserve their U-19 title.

Elsewhere, Egypt reigned supreme. They swept aside Nigeria, Tunisia, and Algeria to claim the boys’ U-15, girls’ U-15, and girls’ U-19 titles. Nigeria, the defending U-15 champions, struggled through the semifinal against hosts Ghana, edging a 3–2 win, but were dismantled in the final by Egypt’s flawless 3–0 display. Led by talisman Asser Sameh, Egypt dominated: Ahmed Elsabbagh dispatched Marvelous Joseph 3–0, Sameh himself overwhelmed Usman Ayoola 3–0, and Hussein Eyad completed the rout with another straight-sets victory over Samson Joshua.

In the girls’ U-15 division, Egypt reclaimed the crown they had lost to Uganda in 2025, defeating Tunisia 3–1. Their dominance continued in the girls’ U-19 category, where they humbled Algeria with a commanding 3–0 win to retain their title.

With three team trophies secured, Egypt reaffirmed its supremacy in African youth table tennis, while Nigeria found solace in Atunwon’s unforgettable heroics.