Nigeria’s 2026 Africa Youth Cup champion, Matthew Kuti, has set his sights on making impact at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, as he prepares to compete against the world’s best young table tennis players at the historic event.
Kuti will be one of 32 male players contesting the table tennis event at Dakar 2026, which will mark the first time the Youth Olympic Games are held on African soil.
The young Nigerian is brimming with confidence ahead of the Games and believes he can challenge for top honours despite the quality of opposition expected from around the globe.
“My target is to go there and take a gold for Nigeria,” Kuti said. “There is mixed doubles in Dakar and singles. I want to win the two.”
While acknowledging the strength of the field, the African youth champion remains determined to give his best in pursuit of his ambitious goal.
“Yeah, I will try my best. I will try what I can do because now I’m in training, so I will try my best,” he said.
For Kuti, qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games is a dream come true. He described the event as one of the biggest competitions in sport and expressed his excitement at earning the opportunity to represent Nigeria.
“It means a lot to me because the Olympic Games is a very difficult competition and it’s very exciting. I’m very happy that I will participate in the Olympic Games,” he said.
The teenager also reflected on the sport’s impact on his life, crediting table tennis for shaping his future and opening doors to opportunities.
“Table tennis has changed my life, changed everything about me. It means a lot to me,” Kuti said.
His journey into the sport began under the guidance of his father, a table tennis coach. Although he initially preferred football, his father encouraged him to pursue a different path.
“Before I was playing football, my father told me, ‘No, you can’t play football. Table tennis is your way.’ He trained me and I started playing, and I saw my game changing,” Kuti recalled.
Since then, the Nigerian youngster has enjoyed considerable success, winning several tournaments and emerging as one of Africa’s brightest prospects.
Kuti also spoke about the mental challenges of competing against stronger and more experienced opponents, revealing that advice from his coaches has helped him overcome moments of self-doubt.
“Sometimes if I meet a tough player, I will be scared, but my coach tells me not to be scared. You have nothing to lose because he is a senior player. So I try my best, I play and I fight,” he said.
Representing Nigeria on the international stage is another source of pride for the teenager.
“It means a lot to me because representing Nigeria is not easy. There are a lot of players in Nigeria who want to play for the country. I’m very happy that I’m playing for Nigeria.”
Looking beyond Dakar 2026, Kuti has already set lofty ambitions for his career. He hopes to compete regularly on the World Table Tennis (WTT) circuit, attend elite training camps in Europe and eventually establish himself among the sport’s leading players.
“My target is to play in WTT main singles and have a lot of achievements in table tennis,” he said. “I want to win a WTT Star Contender title. That is my wish.”
Kuti also had words of advice for aspiring players, stressing the importance of discipline, hard work and commitment.
“You should keep training and discipline is very important. If your coach tells you something, you have to do it. You have to focus and train. That is very important,” he said.
As Dakar prepares to welcome the Youth Olympic Games for the first time in Africa, Kuti says he is honoured to be part of a landmark moment for the continent.
“This is my first time going to the Youth Olympics. I’m very happy and very excited that Nigeria picked me,” he said.
With confidence, ambition and the backing of a growing table tennis nation, Kuti will head to Dakar determined to leave his mark on the biggest youth sporting stage in the world.
