Nigeria's
unseeded Azeez Solanke in the junior boys’ singles event of the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Junior & Cadet Championship holding in Algiers recorded the biggest upset of the tournament.
Solanke was never considered favourite for the encounter as the tournament’s number seed; Egypt’s Karim Elhakem was ahead of the Nigerian in all ramifications.
Even when the match started, Solanke could not match the pace of the Egyptian to concede a 3-0 defeat.
Propelled by a pep talk from Coach Dotun Omoniyi Solanke fired up himself against the highly-rated Egyptian.
Having lost the first three sets at 11-8,11-8,11-6,, Solanke recovered to level up the match with 8-11,6-11,8-11 win to put the game at 3-3.
Solanke went on to finish the game with 8-11 win to edge out the competition’s favourite at 4-3.
Azeez Solanke is the only Nigerian remaining in the singles event, when he battles Tunisia’s SAADAOUI Mootezz in the quarterfinal.
Unlike Solanke, the likes of Amadi Omeh, Ajoke Ojomu and Nimota Aregbesola all exited the tournament in the round of 16.
Nigeria’s hope of a gold medal now lies on Esther Oribamise who will be playing in the semi-final stage of the cadet girls’ singles against Tunisia’s BAKLOUTI Manel. The tournament ends on Tuesday with finals in all the singles event
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