By VIVIAN IBOBO

Nigeria is absent from the 2024 ITTF Africa Youth Championships currently underway in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

Nigeria, a high profile team is missing from the action at the championships, which began on Monday at the Botho University Hall in Gaborone.

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the ITTF with representation from Africa.

In spite being one of the leading African teams, Nigeria is not participating in this prestigious event.

In the 2023 edition held in Agadir, Morocco, the Nigerian contingent managed to compete with the support of Friends of Table Tennis.

Botswana is making history by hosting the continent’s finest young players for the first time in African table tennis.

Having previously hosted regional championships, Botswana is thrilled to stage one of Africa’s elite tournaments.

Motswagole Kudzanani, President of the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA), emphasised that hosting the tournament would lead to all-round improvement for table tennis.

“Hosting provides a platform to build our capacity and expose our athletes to international standards. It also increases our brand visibility; showcasing our capabilities and helping us identify areas for growth,” he said.

This year’s championships feature an increased number of participating nations compared to the 2023 edition.

These include Botswana, Congo DRC, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Benin Republic, Guinea, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Rwanda, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The seven day continental championships serves as African qualifiers for the 2024 ITTF World Youth Championships, scheduled to take place in Helsingborg, Sweden, in November. (NAN)

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