By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigeria’s youth table tennis team has been dealt a heartbreaking blow as the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) confirms the denial of visas for its players scheduled to compete at the 2025 ITTF World Youth Championships in Romania, taking place from November 23 to 30.
The squad, led by West African U19 champion Kuti Matthew, had earned its rightful place at the global event after dominating the U15 and U19 boys’ team categories at the 2025 ITTF-Africa Youth Championships held in Lagos.
Despite their stellar performance and qualification, the Romanian embassy reportedly declined to issue visas to the team, forcing tournament organizers to replace Nigeria with Egypt and Tunisia in the affected events.
The setback has sparked frustration among stakeholders who argue that young athletes should not suffer the consequences of diplomatic or administrative shortcomings.
The NTTF described the situation as “deeply disappointing” and a loss not only for the athletes but also for African representation on the global stage.
Fans and supporters have taken to social media to express outrage and call for structural reforms to ensure smoother access to international competitions for Nigerian athletes in the future.
