Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2026 WTT Contender Lagos, Adesoji Tayo, has promised players and fans an unforgettable experience when the tournament serves off from May 19 to 24 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Top table tennis nations including Japan, South Korea, Germany and France will headline the elite field expected at the tournament, which is one of the 10 WTT Contender Series events scheduled for 2026.

Players from Denmark, the USA, India, Portugal, Romania, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Belgium, Canada, Togo, the Netherlands, Ghana, Wales, Egypt, Italy, Chile, Slovenia and hosts Nigeria are also expected to compete for the $100,000 prize purse.

Tayo reaffirmed Lagos’ readiness to host one of the biggest events on the World Table Tennis calendar, insisting that the city would once again deliver a vibrant atmosphere for athletes and spectators.

According to Tayo, the tournament has continued to establish itself as a major showcase for elite table tennis on the continent while boosting Nigeria’s image on the global sporting stage.

“We are excited to host this prestigious event, one that not only highlights elite table tennis in Africa and beyond but also underscores Nigeria’s growing influence on the global sporting stage. Coming on the heels of the centenary anniversary of table tennis in London, Lagos is proud to welcome athletes eager to compete with passion and precision,” he added.

• Flick

FC Barcelona have reached a full agreement with manager Hansi Flick over a new contract extension that will keep the German coach at the club until 2028 following their dramatic La Liga title triumph.

The agreement comes less than 24 hours after Barcelona sealed their 29th Spanish league title with a commanding 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres secured the crucial El Clasico win, handing Barcelona an unassailable 14-point lead with three games remaining.

The victory completed another remarkable domestic campaign under Flick, who has quickly transformed Barcelona into one of Europe’s most exciting attacking sides since taking charge.

• FIFA World Cup 2026 Trophy (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

FIFA on Monday unveiled an 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, with former players and coaches set to analyse matches and decide the winners of major individual awards during the tournament.

The panel, unveiled during a virtual media briefing will be led by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and includes former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ex-Germany striker and coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope and Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva.

Others on the panel are Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow and Aron Winter.

FIFA said that the group will also decide the winners of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards during the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time, with 104 matches scheduled across the competition.