Nigeria Wins Bid To Host ITTF Championship In 2028

Nigeria has won the right to host the 2028 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships.

At the African Table Tennis Federation annual general meeting in Morocco, Nigeria secured the 2028 hosting rights with 23 votes, defeating Tunisia, which received 15.

The National Sports Commission described the development as another major milestone for Nigerian sports.

It said that the hosting rights are a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s growing capacity to host major international sporting competitions.

“Winning the hosting rights for the 2028 ITTF Table Tennis Championships and the 2027 Africa Para Table Tennis Championships is another major milestone for Nigerian sports,” Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, said on X.

“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope mandate, our vision is to reposition Nigeria as a leading sports destination. Through RHINSE, we are deliberately shifting from simply consuming sports to producing sports by hosting major competitions, creating economic opportunities and contributing to national development.

“Together with Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, we remain committed to building a sports economy that attracts global attention, investment and partnerships.”

Olopade assured that Nigeria would deliver a world-class championship that sets a benchmark for future competitions in Africa.

“Nigeria is ready to welcome the world,” he added. “The future of Nigerian sports is about creating a sporting economic culture and destination the world comes to.”

The selection of host for the continental tournament was fiercely contested by Nigeria and Tunisia.

After the votes, Nigeria was supported by the delegates, with 23 of the 38 certified voters casting their votes for the West African nation ahead of Tunisia, which garnered 15 votes to concede the hosting rights to Nigeria.

Other hosts decided at the AGM include Libya (Cup), Algeria (Championships), Botswana (Youth) and Nigeria (Para) for 2027, while the hosts for the 2028 event include Nigeria (Championships), Rwanda (Youth) and Egypt (Para).

The host of the Cup in 2028 is yet to be decided.

The President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Adesoji Tayo, said the confidence reposed in Nigeria by the delegates was overwhelming, while promising to deliver a world-class tournament in the city of Lagos.

“We want to thank all the delegates for putting their trust in Nigeria to host a befitting tournament in 2028 as well as the African Para Championships in 2027,” he said. “As an experienced organiser of major table tennis tournaments in the world, we are poised to deliver a seamless event that continues to attract more people to Nigeria. The city of Lagos will again witness the best of table tennis, and we assure all our visitors that Nigeria will be the place to be in 2028.”