Table Tennis
Egypt Extends Table Tennis Dominance at 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis
Egypt reaffirmed its status as the undisputed powerhouse of African table tennis with a commanding performance at the 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis, clinching gold in both the men’s and women’s team events — and sweeping all three doubles titles in a show of continental supremacy.
Led by continental icons Omar Assar and Hana Goda, the Egyptian teams were unstoppable throughout the eight-day championship, maintaining their dominance in a tournament that drew Africa’s finest talents.
In the women’s team final, Egypt proved too strong for Uganda, cruising to a 3–0 victory to retain their crown. The win marked Egypt’s 18th women’s team title, solidifying their place as the most successful nation in the history of the competition. Their previous triumphs date back to 1962, and include victories in 1964, 1968, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
In the men’s event, Egypt reclaimed continental supremacy by defeating Algeria in the final, having earlier edged defending champions Nigeria in a tense semifinal encounter. The triumph brought Egypt’s men’s team title tally to 16, reinforcing their long-standing dominance of African table tennis.
While Egypt celebrated history, Uganda made their own by becoming the first East African nation to reach the women’s team final. The trio of Judith Nangozi, Judith Mirembe, and Jemimah Nakawala stunned Nigeria 3–1 in the semifinals before settling for silver.
In the men’s category, Morocco returned to the continental spotlight by claiming bronze after a 3–1 semifinal loss to Algeria, while Nigeria secured bronze by finishing third following their semifinal defeat to Egypt.
The individual events further highlighted Egypt’s superiority. Omar Assar etched his name deeper into history by winning a record fifth men’s singles title, while Hana Goda, the teenage sensation, became the youngest and first-ever player to win the women’s singles title three consecutive times.
Egypt’s sweep extended to the doubles events, capturing gold in Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Men’s Doubles.
In the Mixed Doubles final, defending champions Youssef Abdelaziz and Mariam Alhodaby retained their crown with a straight-sets victory (11–4, 11–7, 11–9) over compatriots Mostafa Badr and Marwa Alhodaby.
The newly formed pair of Dina Meshref and Hana Goda triumphed in the Women’s Doubles, defeating the Alhodaby twins, Mariam and Marwa, 3–1 (11–9, 11–8, 9–11, 11–4) to claim their first title together — building on their impressive run to the final at the WTT Contender Lagos in July.
In the Men’s Doubles, Youssef Abdelaziz added to his medal collection by partnering Mohamed El-Beiali to overcome Algeria’s Bella Maheidine and Jellouli Milhane 3–1 (11–7, 8–11, 11–6, 11–2) in an enthralling final.
With their latest clean sweep, Egypt has once again stamped its authority as Africa’s table tennis superpower — blending experience, youthful flair, and unmatched consistency to reign supreme on the continental stage.
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The ancient town of Otan Ayegbaju will once again take centre stage in Nigerian table tennis when it hosts the 6th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Tournament from April 12 to 17, 2026.
The six-day championship, scheduled to take place at the iconic Idera Multipurpose Hall, has grown into one of the most prestigious events on the country’s table tennis calendar.
Established in honour of the late Michael and Felicia Alabi, the annual tournament has evolved beyond its memorial origins to become a major platform for discovering and developing emerging talent while giving established players the opportunity to reaffirm their dominance.
Over the years, the competition has served as an important bridge between grassroots participation and elite performance, attracting players from across the country and helping to strengthen Nigeria’s table tennis pipeline.
The 2026 edition is expected to be the biggest yet, with more than 250 players from all 36 states of the federation set to converge on the Osun State town.
Participants will compete across several categories ranging from U-15 singles to veteran, para and deaf divisions, reflecting the tournament’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity in sports.
Young prospects, experienced professionals, veterans, para-athletes and deaf athletes will compete side by side, creating a diverse and competitive environment that organisers say embodies the values of unity, resilience and excellence.
Beyond the competition itself, the tournament is also expected to attract coaches, scouts, administrators and table tennis enthusiasts from across Nigeria, reinforcing its growing reputation as a talent-development platform.
The influx of athletes and visitors is also anticipated to boost economic activity in the host community, with hotels, transport services and local businesses preparing to welcome guests during the week-long event.
Organisers believe the presence of top-level competition in the town will inspire young people in the community, giving them the opportunity to witness elite table tennis firsthand and potentially sparking interest in the sport among the next generation.
The event is supported by the Osun State Government, the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation and the Osun State Table Tennis Association.
As anticipation builds, fans and stakeholders are preparing for six days of intense competition, tactical brilliance and memorable moments when the 2026 Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Tournament returns to Otan Ayegbaju next month.
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has tasked the newly inaugurated board of the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) to channel resources toward the growth of grassroots and school sports, as well as broader sporting activities across the state.
The governor gave the charge on Wednesday, February 18, during the board’s inauguration at Lagos House, Marina.
The LSSTF board is chaired by former Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development and current President of the International Table Tennis Federation Africa, Enitan Oshodi, while Olaposi Agunbiade will serve as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer.
Other board members include Olabode Agoro, Adeniyi Adekoya, Gbolahan Onibuje, Jubril Gawat, Kikelomo Bolarinwa, Olayemi Sarumi, Lekan Fatodu, Moshood Ajide and Engr. Ibrahim Adigun, Chairman of the Chairmen of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.
Focus on Institutions and Funding
Addressing the board, Sanwo-Olu urged members to leverage their professional expertise and networks to build a strong and enduring sports institution for Lagos.
“The mandate is straightforward — to support funding in sports and establish strong institutions for today and future generations,” the governor said. “I implore you to deploy resources into grassroots and school sports, and to enhance facilities across our divisions. This quasi-body can also reach out to the private sector, drawing on government experience to attract wider support.”
He stressed the importance of institutional strength and sustainable funding models in positioning Lagos as a leading sports hub.
Private Sector Partnership Key
In his remarks, Oshodi underscored the need to create sustainable funding pathways to support sports infrastructure and athlete development across the state.
“The Lagos State Government is spending a lot on sports, but in a megacity of over 20 million people, it is never enough,” he said. “We need facilities to support athletes, and the private sector’s involvement is crucial. With the capacity of this board, we are confident of securing that support.”
Oshodi added that while the board is focused on achieving immediate successes, its broader objective is to lay the foundation for long-term and sustainable sports development in Lagos.
The LSSTF was established to mobilise additional funding and partnerships to complement government investment in sports, with particular emphasis on youth development, infrastructure improvement and talent identification across the state’s divisions.
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Omar Assar reaffirmed his dominance of African table tennis on Monday as he clinched a record seventh men’s singles title at the ITTF Africa Cup in Benghazi, Libya, while teenage star Hana Goda continued her remarkable rise by securing her fourth women’s singles crown.
Assar was imperious throughout the tournament, completing a flawless run without dropping a single set across six matches.
The Egyptian swept most of his opponents 3–0 or 4–0 and sealed the title with a commanding 4–0 victory (12–10, 11–8, 11–7, 11–7) over Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa in the final, successfully defending the crown he reclaimed in 2025. His triumph further cemented his status as the only male player to win the Africa Cup seven times.
Despite the defeat, Bouloussa enjoyed a historic campaign, becoming the first Algerian to reach the Africa Cup final. The 22-year-old produced one of the tournament’s standout performances in the semifinals, edging Nigeria’s five-time champion Quadri Aruna 4–3. Bouloussa is set to make his debut at the ITTF World Cup in Macao next month.
In the women’s singles, Goda—still the youngest-ever Africa Cup champion at just 14—was equally dominant. The Egyptian teenager brushed aside her compatriot and nine-time title holder Dina Meshref 4–0 (12–10, 11–3, 11–7, 11–9) in the final to retain her title and extend her unbeaten run on the continent.
Algeria’s teenage prodigy Tania Morice also emerged as one of the revelations of the competition. Building on her cadet title at the Africa Youth Championships in Lagos last year, Morice finished among the top four in Benghazi to secure her first ITTF World Cup ticket. She defeated experienced opponents, including Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello, Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana and Tunisia’s Abir Haj Salah en route to the semifinals.
Overwhelmed by her breakthrough, Morice described the achievement as “incredible,” adding that the support of her coaches, teammates and parents had been crucial to her rapid rise.
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