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Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have become the first team to win a Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships in Africa, following their triumph at the maiden Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships in Lagos on Saturday.
NSCDC’s experienced duo, Rilwan Akanbi and Abdullahi Abdulrahman produced a sizzling performance in the final to edge the Lagos team led by Matthew Kuti and Muiz Adegoke.
The NSCDC team clinched the title with a 3-2 victory, earning the N1m prize money after an intense battle at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The 28 teams that participated in the historical championship include clubs from Ghana, Togo and the Benin Republic.
Special accolades were given to Ondo State’s Funmilayo Ojo and NSCDC’s Abdulrahman, who were named the most improved and valuable players of the championships respectively.
The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Mukhail Abiru,Abiru expressed his commitment to youth empowerment through sports and praised the efforts of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and the Africa Table Tennis Federation president, Wahid Oshodi, for their role in making the tournament a success.
“What an incredible journey it has been! As we gather here to celebrate the grand finale of the First Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championship, I am filled with pride and immense gratitude. This championship has marked a new chapter in African sports, as we brought to life the first mixed table tennis tournament ever held on the continent. We have made history together, and it’s a milestone that I believe will set a powerful precedent for years to come.
“This championship was conceived with a dual mission: to advance sports development in Lagos State, and Nigeria by extension, and to create opportunities for our young players to compete on a global stage. For us at the SAIL Empowerment Foundation—an endowment my wife and I set up—supporting this historic event aligns with our mission to empower young people and inspire grassroots innovation. The tournament has opened doors for emerging talents from Nigeria and across West Africa, with players from Ghana, Togo, and the Benin Republic participating in the competition,” he added.
