Nigeria's participation in the table tennis event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games concluded on Monday following the elimination of Matthew Kuti and Favour Ojo. Both athletes were unable to secure the necessary results in their final preliminary-round matches to advance to the knockout phase.
Kuti, who entered the tournament as the African Youth Cup champion and a key medal prospect for his country, faced a must-win scenario against Italy's Francesco Travesan. However, the Nigerian deputy captain was defeated 3-0, effectively ending his hopes of progressing from Group C.
The path to the knockout stage required a top-two finish in the group. Kuti's campaign included a 3-0 loss to Hong Kong's Li Ki Ho and a 3-1 victory over Tunisia's Youssef Aidli on Sunday, but the final defeat to Travesan proved insurmountable.
Favour Ojo also saw her tournament come to a close after recording her third defeat in the women's singles group stage. Her loss to an opponent from Hong Kong on Monday confirmed her exit, leaving Nigeria without further representation in the sport.
The tournament format is strictly limited to the top two players from each group advancing to the next round. The early departure of both representatives marks a significant setback for the Nigerian team at the continental youth games.
With the conclusion of the table tennis event for the Nigerian contingent, the focus for the delegation now shifts to other disciplines as the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games continue.
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