Nigeria’s experienced table tennis player, Segun Toriola, has pulled out of this year’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Senior Cup serving off in Yaounde, Cameroon on Tuesday.
According to a release by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Toriola will not feature due to fatigue and ill-health.
The six-time Olympian, who was hoping to use the tournament to assess other players ahead of the September All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo, says he is disappointed at missing out of the event.
He expressed optimism that ‘Team Nigeria’ will do well at the championship.
Home grown talent, Kazeem Makanjuola, has been called up to replace the 40-year old.
In reaction, he said: “I am very excited that I was considered to step into the shoes of Segun Toriola after he withdrew due to ill-health and I understand the confidence that NTTF repose on me and I must ensure I don’t fail them in Cameroon.
“Also, this has afforded me the rare opportunity to make my second appearance at the tournament after losing to El-Sayed Lashin in 2013 in the quarter-final stage while I defeated him during the Club Championship at same event. For me, I see this as an opportunity to prove myself and make my country proud”.