The duo will represent Nigeria among 36 of the world’s most promising Under-12 players from 26 national associations at the event, which will be held at the English Institute of Sport. The programme is organised jointly by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Table Tennis England.
Ayoola and Emelike earned their places through their performances at the 2026 Africa Hopes Week & Challenge in Accra, Ghana, where they finished among the continent’s leading young players.
Ayoola claimed silver in the boys’ competition, finishing behind Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindira. Egypt’s Adam Lasheen Aly took third place, while Ghana’s Ransford Antwi finished fourth.
In the girls’ category, Emelike finished fourth as Egypt’s Zeina Ayma Mohammed won the title. Uganda’s Patience Anyango and Tunisia’s Ritej Cherif also finished among the leading competitors.
The Sheffield programme forms part of the ITTF’s global talent identification pathway for players under the age of 12. It combines intensive technical training with a competitive Challenge, giving participants the opportunity to learn from experienced international coaches and test themselves against their peers.
Selection for the ITTF Hopes Team will be based not only on match results but also on technical ability, training attitude and long-term development potential. Those selected will have a pathway into the ITTF’s High Performance programme.
Nigeria’s representatives will be joined by four other African players: Egypt’s Zeina Farouk and Adam Lashin, Tunisia’s Ritej Charif and Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindira.
Their participation gives Ayoola and Emelike an opportunity to gain international experience and continue their development against some of the world’s most promising young table tennis players.
The qualification of the Nigerian pair also highlights the role of the ITTF Hopes pathway in identifying emerging talent and creating opportunities for young athletes to progress towards the international stage.