Matthew Kuti Clinches African U-19 Table Tennis Crown, Dominates All Nigerian Final
Nigeria’s Matthew Kuti emerged as the new U-19 Boys’ Singles champion at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Cup after defeating fellow Nigerian Sultan Agunbiade 4-1 in a thrilling all-Nigerian final in Accra, Ghana.
The victory crowned an outstanding campaign for Kuti, who bounced back strongly to reaffirm his status as one of Africa’s brightest young table tennis talents. His triumph also handed Nigeria its only individual gold medal of the championship.
Kuti was in commanding form throughout the final, controlling the contest against Agunbiade to secure the continental title and add another major achievement to his growing career.
The all-Nigerian showdown highlighted the country’s strength in youth table tennis, with Agunbiade producing an equally impressive campaign.
The youngster reached the final after eliminating defending champion and top seed Wassim Essid of Tunisia in the semi-finals, guaranteeing Nigeria both the gold and silver medals in the U-19 Boys’ Singles event.
Kuti’s success came just days after he played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s dramatic triumph in the U-19 Boys’ Team event.
Team Nigeria fought back from two matches down to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a thrilling final, successfully defending the title they won in the previous edition.
The double success in Accra reinforces Nigeria’s dominance in African youth table tennis and provides another boost to the country’s rich tradition of producing world-class players capable of competing on the global stage.
With Kuti crowned continental champion and Agunbiade finishing as runner-up, Nigeria leaves the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Cup with renewed confidence ahead of future international competitions.
