2019 ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships: Nigeria qualifies for World Junior Championships

Despite a two-year absence from the ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships, Nigeria boys’ team yesterday in Accra, Ghana,  regained its place among the superpowers  at junior level after securing its place at the 2019 ITTF World Junior Championships holding in Thailand.

Apart from the first group match against Tunisia in which the team recorded a 3-1 win, every other match ended 3-0 in their favour.

The team led by Azeez Solanke, Augustine Emmanuel, Abayomi Animashaun and Jamiu Ayanwale were unbeaten from the first match to the semifinal stage where they walloped Togo 3-0.

From 2016 when Nigeria featured at the World Junior Championships held in Cape Town, South Africa, the team has not competed at the global championship and this qualification meant a lot to the players who told NationSport that they are happy returning to the big stage in the world.

“We are happy that we qualified and I must tell you that we are hoping to do well this time in Thailand. Generally to quality as one of the best teams in Africa was a bit easy for us because the only tough match we played was against Tunisia in the opening match of the group. We are excited on this and we hope we can get the needed support from government to attend this tournament later in the year,” Animashaun said.