By Achore Richard
Nigeria’s Kuti Matthew underlined his status as one of Africa’s brightest table tennis prospects by capturing the U-19 Boys’ Singles title at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Cup after defeating compatriot Sultan Agunbiade 4-1 in a thrilling all-Nigerian final at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, Ghana.
The victory completed a remarkable campaign for the talented youngster, who produced outstanding performances throughout the tournament to secure Nigeria’s only gold medal at this year’s Africa Youth Cup.
Kuti’s road to the title was anything but straightforward. In one of the biggest matches of the competition, he stunned reigning African Youth Championships Elsayed Abdelmalk 4-2 in the semi-finals, delivering a composed and commanding display to earn his place in the championship match.
Awaiting him in the final was fellow Nigerian Sultan Agunbiade, setting up a fascinating battle between two of the continent’s finest young talents. Despite Agunbiade’s impressive run to the final, Kuti showcased his superior consistency, tactical intelligence and attacking quality to record a convincing 4-1 victory and lift the coveted trophy.
The triumph further cements Kuti Matthew’s reputation as one of Africa’s elite junior players and highlights Nigeria’s continued dominance in youth table tennis on the continent.
For Agunbiade, the silver medal capped an excellent tournament after his memorable semi-final victory over top seed Wassim Essid, while the all-Nigerian final demonstrated the depth of talent emerging from the country’s table tennis programme.
As the curtains came down on the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Cup in Accra, Kuti Matthew stood proudly atop the podium, celebrating a well-deserved continental title that could be another significant milestone in what promises to be a bright future for the Nigerian star.