The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF, has lodged a formal petition with the International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF, after Romanian authorities denied visas to Nigerian players scheduled for the World Youth Championships.
The decision has raised widespread concern within Nigeria’s table tennis community, with officials warning on Wednesday that it jeopardises the nation’s participation in one of the sport’s premier global youth events.
NTTF President, Adesoji Tayo, condemned the visa refusal, describing it as “a violation of international sportsmanship, inclusivity and fair participation”. He said the reasons provided for the denial were “unjust, discriminatory and contrary to the spirit of unity which international sport should foster”.
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Tayo expressed disappointment that weeks of rigorous preparation had gone to waste, noting that the setback had dampened players’ morale and resulted in financial losses for the federation.
Nigeria had earned the right to represent Africa in the boys’ under-19 and under-15 team events after winning titles at the African Youth Championships.
Following the forced withdrawal, Tayo stressed that the NTTF “will not be responsible for any penalties or costs” associated with accommodation or hospitality arrangements already made for the competition.
He urged the ITTF to intervene immediately, warning that the incident had disrupted Nigeria’s long-term plans to groom a new generation of world-class table tennis players.
