Nigeria's Matthew Kuti One Win Away from Dakar 2026 Table Tennis Knockout Stage

Posted : 02 November 2026

Nigeria's deputy captain, Matthew Kuti, is one victory away from securing a place in the men's singles knockout stage of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games table tennis competition in Senegal.

The African Youth Cup champion revived his qualification hopes with an impressive 3-1 victory over Tunisia's Youssef Aidli after losing his opening group match at the Dakar Expo Centre.

Kuti and compatriot Favour Ojo had earlier suffered disappointment in the mixed doubles competition. The Nigerian pair exited in the round of 16 after losing to their Thai counterparts on Saturday, October 31.

In the men's singles event, Kuti was drawn in Group C alongside Hong Kong's Li Ki Ho, Tunisia's Youssef Aidli and Italy's Francesco Travesan. Only the top two players in the group will progress to the knockout stage.

The Nigerian began his singles campaign with a difficult 3-0 defeat to Li. The Hong Kong player dominated the encounter, winning 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 to leave Kuti under pressure in the group standings.

However, Kuti responded strongly against Aidli. He won the opening two games 11-8, 11-8 before the Tunisian took the third 11-9. The Nigerian regained control in the fourth game, winning 11-7 to complete a 3-1 victory.

The result kept his hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive ahead of his decisive meeting with Italy's Francesco Travesan on Monday, November 2.

Kuti expressed confidence in his ability to improve his performance against the Italian, acknowledging the competitive standard of the tournament.

"It has not been easy for us here in Dakar because everybody is at their best and we are all aiming for the knockout stage. I hope I can raise my game against the Italian," the 2026 African Youth Cup champion said.

Meanwhile, Ojo's campaign in the women's singles competition suffered another setback. She lost 3-1 to Egypt's Yara Elbadawy, recording her second group-stage defeat and ending her chances of reaching the knockout rounds.

The defeat followed her earlier loss to Czechia's Hanka Kodet. Ojo had also partnered Kuti in the mixed doubles competition before their elimination.

Nigeria's attention will now turn to Kuti's final group fixture as he attempts to secure one of the two available qualification spots in Group C.

The table tennis competition at Dakar 2026 runs from October 31 to November 5 at the Dakar Expo Centre. The tournament features men's singles, women's singles and mixed doubles events.

Nigeria's Matthew Kuti One Win Away from Dakar 2026 Table Tennis Knockout Stage

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