In the junior and Cadet Boys’ Events at the 2019 Ghana Junior and Cadet Open in Accra, the Nigerian quartets of Azeez Solanke, Jamiu Ayanwale, Emmanuel Augustine and Mati Taiwo gave a heroic performance and a glimpse of the future of Nigeria table tennis.
Sports247.ng exclusively reports that Nigeria played in six finals, winning a total of Six Gold, three Silver.
Also, in the junior boys’ singles event. Azeez Solanke defeated Mati Taiwo (13-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6) to win the title. Mati has earlier defeated his fellow compatriot, Emmanuel Augustine (11-4, 11-8, 11-7, and 12-10) in one of the semifinals while the eventual winner overcame Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Alshareif (11-6, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-7).
In the junior boys’ double event, it was an all Nigerian affairs in the finals as Mati Taiwo partnered with Emmanuel Augustine lost to the duo of Azeez Solanke and Jamiu Ayanwale (8-11, 11-9, 13-11, and 12-10).
Sports247.ng scooped that the Cadet Singles’ Event also witness a Nigerian affair as Mati Taiwo accounted for Jamiu Ayanwale (8-11, 11-9, 11-6, and 12-10) to win the Cadet Singles Title.
While at the Cadet Boys’ double the pair of Nigeria’s Ayanwale Jamiu and Mati Taiwo defeated their India’s counterpart 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3).
In the team Events, Nigeria won two Gold at the junior and Cadet Boys’ team defeating DR Congo and India 3-1 and 3-2 respectively Nigeria still hold the ace for the future of Table Tennis in Africa. Mudashiu Shittu informs sports247.ng on Tuesday
