Nigeria’s Abayomi Animashaun defeated Akinwale Fagbamila 3-1 on Tuesday in the men’s singles at the ongoing 2026 World Table Tennis tournament in Lagos.
The matches were played at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Animashaun displayed composure and tactical discipline during the encounter as both players produced exciting rallies before he secured a deserved victory.
He won the match 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 11-9 after recovering strongly from the second set defeat to dominate crucial moments.
In another men’s singles fixture, Netherlands player Milo De Boer defeated Nigeria’s Sodiq Adesanya in straight sets to progress comfortably.
De Boer, ranked 269 in the world, recorded a 3-0 victory with scores of 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 against the Nigerian opponent.
Another entertaining contest saw Tobi Adebakin defeat Qudus Oladejo 3-1 after maintaining control during key stages of the match.
Adebakin secured victory with scores of 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7 to advance in the competition amid applause from spectators.
Matthew Natus also defeated Amindu Lawal in a tightly contested five-set encounter filled with long rallies and dramatic momentum swings.
Natus eventually prevailed 13-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 after recovering from setbacks to seal victory in the deciding set.
In the women’s singles category, Nigeria’s Sukurat Aiyebogan defeated compatriot Fatimoh Ahmed 3-0 to qualify for the next round.
Aiyebogan dominated the match throughout, winning 11-2, 11-5, 11-8 with aggressive attacking play and excellent control at the table.
Ghana’s Joanita Borteye also defeated Nigeria’s Halima Hussain 3-1 after recovering from losing the opening game of the contest.
Hussain started brightly, but Borteye responded strongly to claim the remaining sets 11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 and complete the comeback victory.
Speaking after his win, De Boer admitted that playing against a Nigerian opponent before the home supporters was challenging.
“The first match is always difficult, especially against a home player, but I am happy I got the win,” he said.
He described Adesanya as a tricky left-handed player and said adapting to Lagos weather conditions was another difficult aspect of the encounter.
“It is very hot here because I come from a cold country, but I like the atmosphere and the support from the fans,” he added.
Coach of De Boer, Osama Almak, praised his player’s performance and acknowledged the difficulties associated with opening matches in major tournaments.
“I’m very satisfied. It was the first match, so it was not easy,” Almak said after the victory.
The coach explained that De Boer usually requires time to settle into matches and improve his rhythm during tournaments.
Almak added that the Dutch player still needed to improve his movement and maintain concentration consistently throughout matches.
The coach also expressed delight at returning to Lagos, where he qualified for the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games during his playing career.
Almak said he retained fond memories of Nigeria and recalled working alongside Nigerian star Quadri Aruna at international competitions.
Nigeria’s Oladiran Joshua said he remained determined to represent the country proudly despite facing a difficult opponent in his opening match.
“The only thing I was determined about was that I had to play very well and represent my country,” Joshua said.
Joshua admitted he was surprised by the quality displayed by his opponent and described the performance as outstanding throughout the contest.
“The guy was playing very fantastic. I wasn’t expecting what he played,” he stated.
According to Joshua, he adjusted his tactics after recognising his opponent’s strength and attempted to compete strongly until the end.
He described the encounter as very tough and said he hoped to improve his backhand, receiving and hooking skills before subsequent matches.
Also speaking, Sukurat Aiyebogan described her victory as interesting and expressed satisfaction with her overall performance during the women’s singles fixture.
“It was interesting because I just tried my best,” she said after defeating Ahmed in straight sets.
Aiyebogan explained that her opponent was a talented cadet player who had already reached the final in another competition category.
She commended organisers for sustaining the annual tournament and helping it grow into one of Africa’s leading table tennis competitions.
“The organisers host this tournament every year and they are trying their best,” she said.
Aiyebogan also expressed confidence about reaching the main draw after winning her opening group-stage fixture at the championship.
She appreciated supporters for their encouragement and backing during the competition in Lagos.
The tournament continues with more matches as players compete for honours, ranking points and the 100,000-dollar prize purse.