Nigeria successfully defended its U-19 Boys’ Team title at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships in Accra, Ghana, after producing a thrilling comeback victory over Egypt in a pulsating final.

READ ALSO: Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria Storm U-19 Team Semifinals at ITTF Africa Youth Championships

Sports247 reports that Agunbiade Sultan inspired the defending champions with a remarkable fightback after recovering from two games down to turn the tide in Nigeria’s favour.

His resilience paved the way for teammates Kuti Matthew, popularly known as “The Dragon,” and Atunwon Quadri, nicknamed the “Table Tennis Messi,” to seal a dramatic 3-2 triumph and retain the continental crown.

While Nigeria celebrated success in the U-19 boys’ category, Egypt once again underlined its dominance across the youth championships by claiming three other team titles.

In the U-19 Girls’ Team final, the Egyptian quartet of Habiba Elbasoumy, Yara Elbadawy, Malak Abdelshakour, and Farida Thabet delivered a commanding performance to sweep aside Algeria 3-0, successfully defending their continental title.

Egypt also emerged champions in the U-15 Boys’ Team event, where Ahmed Elsabbagh, Sameh Asser, Hussein Eyad, and Kosba Mohamed proved too strong for Nigeria.

The North Africans recorded a comprehensive 3-0 victory over the Nigerian team of Joseph Marvelous, Umar Ayoola, and Samson Joshua to lift the title.

The Egyptian dominance continued in the U-15 Girls’ Team final, as Zaki Malak, Nada Elbadawy, Darin Abdelsalam, and Mahgoub Daleela edged Tunisia 3-2 in a fiercely contested encounter to secure another continental crown.

The championship once again showcased the growing standard of youth table tennis across Africa, with Nigeria and Egypt reaffirming their status as two of the continent’s leading forces.

Nigeria’s successful defence of the U-19 Boys’ Team title stands out as one of the highlights of the tournament, demonstrating the country’s strength in developing young table tennis talents capable of competing at the highest level in Africa.

The post Nigeria Retains U-19 Boys’ Team Title as Egypt Dominates ITTF Africa Youth Championships in Accra appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Chairman of Remo Stars Sports Club and Beyond Limits Football Academy, Hon. Kunle Soname, OFR, has praised the players and technical crew of Beyond Limits following their successful defence of the 2026 Gothia Cup title, describing the achievement as a victory for Nigeria and a testament to the country’s football excellence.

Addressing the jubilant players moments after they retained the prestigious youth tournament, Soname commended their discipline, resilience, and determination, noting that they had once again projected Nigeria positively on the global stage.

Read Also: Beyond Limits FA Defend Gothia Cup Crown, Cement Status as Africa’s Youth Football Powerhouse

Sports247 reports that the football administrator expressed immense pride in the team’s remarkable feat, urging the players to cherish the moment while remaining focused on even greater achievements.

“Very well done for yourselves, for the club, and most especially for the nation, Nigeria.”

Soname thanked the players for bringing home the coveted trophy, emphasizing that their success had helped reshape global perceptions about the country.

“Thank you so much for lifting the cup for Nigeria.”

The Remo Stars boss noted that the back-to-back triumphs at the Gothia Cup had sent a strong message about the quality of Nigerian football talent and the excellent developmental work being carried out at Beyond Limits Football Academy.

“We know what people say about Nigeria, but we have shown them what this nation can offer—and you have shown them one of those things.”

Beyond Limits became back-to-back Gothia Cup champions, further cementing their reputation as one of Africa’s leading youth football academies. Their latest success follows another outstanding campaign in Sweden, where they once again showcased technical quality, tactical discipline, and the winning mentality that has become synonymous with the academy.

Soname concluded his address by celebrating the players’ achievement as a source of national pride, reminding them that they were not only representing the club but also carrying the hopes and image of Nigeria wherever they competed.

The emotional message was met with loud applause from the players, who celebrated another historic milestone after successfully defending one of the world’s most prestigious youth football titles.

The post Soname to Beyond Limits: “You Have Lifted Nigeria’s Pride Again” After Historic Gothia Cup Triumph appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Trabzonspor of Turkey striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu reportedly broke down in tears on Friday, after hearing about the death of his grassroots football development coach, Osahon Emokpae in Lagos.

Sports247 gathered that the lanky attacker, who holds the record of Nigeria’s fastest goal ever, when he scored after just eight seconds against Egypt during his Super Eagles’ debut, was devastated on hearing the sad news.

Read Also: Paul Onuachu Reflects On Memorable Trabzonspor Season After Domestic Cup Success

To worsen the emotional trauma for Onuachu, whose Eagles’ debut was on March 26, 2019 in an international friendly at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, the hospital where Coach Osahon died in the early hours of Wednesday has allegedly refused to release his body.

Sources disclosed that nurses at the hospital, which is located along First Avenue in FESTAC Town, Lagos, are insisting on collecting an outstanding payment of N6m, which is said to have accumulated across several months of treatment for the hugely committed coach.

Ironically, it was gathered further that Onuachu, who played under Coach Osahon at Young Stars FC of Satellite Town, Lagos and moved with him to FC Ebedie of Sagamu, had reportedly spent over N5m on bills at a different hospital near Lekki for the highly respected grassroots tactician, who was at a point also the head coach at Enyimba Feeders FC of Aba.

The vastly humble and articulate graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who was also a member of the coaching crew at National Grassroots Dream Team, had to be relocated to the hospital in FESTAC Town due to high bills at the facility in Lekki, but he ended up spending another three months bedridden after one of his legs was amputated.

Another source told Sports247 in confidence that family members of the late coach rallied round and gathered one million naira to bail his body from the hospital in FESTAC Town, but they insisted on collecting the outstanding N5m as well before releasing the corpse.

Sports247 gathered further that the sordid development has left many grassroots football coaches, players, organisers and fans lamenting over the sorrowful chain of controversy trailing the death of a tactician who was well-respected during his life time.

It is on record that Coach Osahon, who was also the head coach at Velje Football Academy of Lagos, with which he travelled to Denmark and Germany for two youth competitions, was until recently the caretaker committee chairman of Badagry Division Football Association (BDFA).

One of the late coach’s associates told Sports247 late Friday night: “Lagos State Football Association must do something about this unfortunate matter. It’s sad for this type of thing to affect someone who worked hard for the state.

“We know that he died in a private hospital, but they should also have human feelings and release his body unconditionally.
“We are all sad about his death. Even our national team player, Paul Onuachu is sad, because he spent so much to keep his mentor alive. He really tried, but see where his effort is ending.”

Sports247 gathered further that officials of Nigeria Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF) have waded into the matter and promised to bring it to the notice of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) chairman, Hajji Olawale Liameed, with great expectations of a better outcome this weekend.

The post Paul Onuachu Breaks Down After Death Of His Grassroots Coach, As FESTAC Town Hospital Seizes Corpse appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.