Fourteen-year-old table tennis sensation, Ize Sezuo, announced herself as one of Nigeria’s brightest emerging stars after overcoming more experienced opponents to win the maiden edition of the Nigeria Women’s Top 12 Table Tennis Championship held at the Not Bad Sports Arena, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos.
The energetic Kogi State youngster produced a string of remarkable performances, upsetting higher-ranked players before defeating Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) player, Hussain Halimat, 4-3 in a thrilling final to emerge champion of the two-day championship, which was organised by Not Bad Sports Arena in collaboration with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).
The inaugural women’s championship, held from June 26 to 27, featured Nigeria’s top female players competing for honours and a total prize purse of ₦3 million. Sezuo carted home the winners’ prize of ₦250,000, while runner-up Hussain received ₦150,000. The two losing semi-finalists earned ₦50,000 each, with the remaining participants receiving appearance fees and consolation prizes.
The tournament marked a significant milestone, following two previous editions organised exclusively for male players.
Day one featured qualifying matches played on a best-of-five format, where invited junior players seized the spotlight. Sezuo, alongside Osun State’s Musa Khadijah coached by Veteran, Saka Suraju, caused major upsets to book places in the knockout stage. The junior players were invited to replace some senior players who were unavailable for the competition.
In the semi-finals, ninth seed Sezuo stunned tournament top seed Asaju Bisola of Edo State in a fiercely contested seven-game encounter. After both players were tied at 3-3, the determined teenager held her nerve to claim the decisive game and seal a memorable 4-3 victory.
The second semi-final was equally dramatic as 11th seed Musa Khadijah pushed third seed Hussain Halimat to the limit. Hussain raced into a 3-1 lead before the spirited teenager fought back to level the contest at 3-3. However, the experienced Hussain eventually prevailed 4-3 to book her place in the final.
The championship match produced another classic encounter. Sezuo stormed into a commanding 3-0 lead, only for Hussain to stage an impressive comeback and draw level at 3-3. With everything on the line, the Kogi-born teenager displayed remarkable composure to win the deciding game and secure a sensational 4-3 triumph.
Speaking after her victory, an excited Sezuo described the title as a major confidence booster in her budding career.
“This is my first time playing a tournament like this. It gave me a very good experience. I never thought I would go this far to the final. Winning this tournament makes me feel proud because it proves I am ready to compete with the senior players who have represented Nigeria. It has really boosted my morale.”
The 14-year-old, who has previously represented Nigeria at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth events and the African Under-15 Championships, expressed confidence that the victory would serve as a springboard towards greater achievements.
“I see myself becoming a professional table tennis player representing Nigeria and Africa in the future.”
Competition Manager, Segun Peters, noted that points earned during the championship would contribute to improving the players’ national rankings, making the tournament an important platform for talent development.
On his part, host and owner of the Not Bad Sports Arena, Mike Ohadike, said the championship was conceived to promote table tennis and contribute to restoring Nigeria’s dominance in the sport in African.
He commended the players for displaying exceptional talent throughout the competition and urged them to remain disciplined, focused and professional in pursuit of greater success, stressing that every participant emerged a winner.
Delivering the keynote address at the championship’s, motivational speaker from Detroit, Michigan, United States, Traci Williams, described the maiden tournament as a landmark initiative capable of transforming women’s table tennis in Nigeria. She said the championship represented more than a competition, but a deliberate investment in female athletes and a platform to give Nigerian women greater visibility while laying the foundation for a more structured and competitive future for the sport.
Williams stressed that while Nigeria has never lacked talent, the country must embrace discipline, proper planning and sustainable development to compete consistently on the global stage. Drawing lessons from table tennis powerhouses such as China, Germany, Sweden and Egypt, she urged stakeholders to build strong coaching systems, expand youth development programmes, improve local competitions and provide sustained support for players, insisting that talent alone was no longer enough to produce world champions.
She also challenged athletes, coaches, administrators, sponsors and officials to uphold professionalism and integrity, noting that discipline remains the bridge between talent and achievement. Encouraging young girls to dream of representing Nigeria, Williams said the inaugural Top 12 Women’s Championship should mark the beginning of a new era in which Nigerian women receive the opportunities, exposure and investment needed to restore the country’s place among Africa’s leading table tennis nations.
The officiating crew was led by 80-year-old John Peters, regarded as Africa’s longest-serving table tennis umpire.
The championship received support from several patrons and international sponsors, including Sir Cyprian Nwankwo, Prince Segun Oduntun, Chief Larry Ofokwu, Alhaji Huseyn Mahmud, Tony Richardson (UK), Ogbueshi Chiedozie Okonjo, Ogbueshi Ndu Obiago, Anthony Emeffiewm (UK), Sheila Okonji (USA) of Afrozons, Pastor Peters of Tiberias Ministry, Olusegun Adebiyi (UK), Dominic Okolie (Germany), Chike Okonji (Esv), Chukwuma Udom (Canada) and Tunji Akingbade (Esv).
