August 4, 2025, A significant milestone in African table tennis history is being marked today as the inaugural ITTF Africa Youth Cup serves off at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The two-day tournament, taking place from August 4 to 5, concludes the 2025 Festival of Table Tennis, a month-long celebration of the sport that has drawn international attention to Nigeria’s commercial capital. The Youth Cup brings together 76 players — 45 boys and 31 girls from 14 countries — competing in the U-15 and U-19 categories for ITTF ranking points and cash prizes.
The event caps off a trio of major competitions held in Lagos over the past three weeks, including the ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, the WTT Contender Lagos, and the ITTF Africa Youth Championships. Together, these tournaments underscore Lagos’s growing influence as a hub for global table tennis.
This momentum can be traced back to 2013, when then-Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola greenlit the hosting of the Lagos International Sports Classics, positioning table tennis as a cornerstone event. That initiative laid the groundwork for Lagos to become a regular stop on the international circuit, including its current role as host of the WTT Contender Lagos, now in its third edition.
In recognition of Fashola’s enduring contribution to sports development across Africa, the tournament’s top honour has been named the BRF Cup, paying tribute to his legacy and unwavering support for youth-focused sporting initiatives.
Fully sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the Youth Cup serves as a launching pad for the continent’s emerging stars, giving them a vital platform to compete, develop, and gain international exposure.
As the spotlight shines on Lagos, the ITTF Africa Youth Cup not only celebrates sporting excellence but also highlights the city’s pivotal role in shaping the future of table tennis on the African continent.