By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Nigeria’s table tennis star, Matthew Kuti, recorded his first victory at the ongoing 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Senegal, defeating Tunisia’s Youssef Aidli 3-1 in a men’s singles preliminary match.
Kuti, who lost his opening match 3-0 to Hong Kong’s Ho Ki Li, bounced back strongly, winning the first two sets 11-8, 11-8. Although Aidli claimed the third set 11-9, the African Youth Cup champion sealed victory with an 11-7 win in the fourth.
Kuti will face Italy’s Francesco Travesan in his final group match, needing another victory to boost his chances of reaching the round of 16.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s beach volleyball duo, Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence, revived their medal hopes with a 2-0 victory over Egypt’s Marwa Mamdouh Salem Saleh and Karma Badawy.
The Nigerians, who had earlier lost 2-1 to Japan, secured their first win with a 21-19, 21-11 triumph over the Egyptian pair.
In the women’s table tennis singles, Nigeria’s Favour Ojo lost 3-1 to Egypt’s Elbadawy Yara, ending her campaign. Ojo won the opening set 11-9 but dropped the next three 9-11, 6-11 and 9-11.
Nigeria’s athletes will continue their quest for honours as the Youth Olympic Games gather momentum in Dakar.
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