The best male player at the All African Games trials, Taiwo Mati has joined African champion Aruna Quadri, Bode Abiodun, Segun Toriola and Olajide Omotayo in Team Nigeria for the 2019 International table tennis federation (ITTF) Africa Cup in August.
The Ondo State-born teenager who was at the weekend crowned the national U-21 champion will be making his senior international debut at the continental showpiece which is the qualifying tournament for the 2019 ITTF World Cups.
The 2019 ITTF Africa Cup serves off on August 3 to 5 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Nigeria as host is expected to present four male and four female players while other participating nations will register two male and two female for the tournament.
For the female team in Nigeria, Edem Offiong who is the highest ranked Nigeria in the world will lead the team. Others are Germany-based Olufunke Oshonaike, Ajoke Ojomu while national female champion, Fatimo Bello completes the list for women.
Winners in the men and women singles event will represent Africa at the ITTF Men and Women World Cups in China later in the year.
According to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the inclusion of Mati in the team became necessary in order to expose the youngster to International competition tournament at senior level.
