Lagos (Nigeria): The race for Africa’s eight available team slots at the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships intensified on Thursday at the ongoing 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis.
The event is taking place at the Rades Multidisciplinary Complex in the coastal city of Tunis, Tunisia, drawing elite teams from across the continent.
A total of 16 men’s and 14 women’s teams began their campaigns from the group stage, with Egypt and Nigeria seeded as the top contenders for qualification.
All eyes are fixed on a ticket to London, the birthplace of table tennis, which will host the prestigious global championship.
The 2026 edition also marks the centenary celebration of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), adding extra significance to the qualification battles in Tunis.
Egypt, the defending champions in both the men’s and women’s events, has fielded a strong squad led by singles champions Omar Assar and Hana Goda.
Nigeria, however, is without Africa’s top-ranked male player, Quadri Aruna — an absence that has weakened their singles performance, with no Nigerian reaching the quarter-finals.
The Nigerian team secured a bronze medal in the Men’s Doubles event, keeping their hopes of team qualification alive.
Despite the setback, returning team member Taiwo Mati remains optimistic about their chances of progressing to London in 2026.
“We really missed our captain, but that notwithstanding, we’re ready to face any team in the competition.
“We all want to go to London in 2026, and we’re hopeful of clinching one of the tickets,” Mati said.
Host nation Tunisia is banking on star player Wassim Essid, while young talents like Youssef Aidli are expected to rise to the occasion when needed most.
Algeria, led by Mehdi Bouloussa and veteran Sami Kherouf, is equally confident and determined to challenge Egypt’s dominance in the team events.
