President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, says he expects fierce competition at this year’s ITTF-Africa Championships, with several in-form and emerging players set to light up Tunis.
Oshodi praised the Tunisian Table Tennis Federation (FTTT) for stepping in to host the event after Rwanda’s withdrawal, commending their dedication and proven experience in staging world-class tournaments.
He also expressed excitement about the growing presence of young talent heading into the tournament, which runs from 12 to 19 October in Tunis. The event will also serve as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London.
“There’s no doubt this year’s tournament will be fiercely contested, especially given the current form of our players and the emergence of talented youth athletes,” Oshodi said. “We’re particularly thrilled that many junior players who featured at the recent Youth Tournaments in Lagos have earned spots on their national teams for Tunis. This shows they’re maturing and ready to challenge the veterans. This will give us a chance to see the levels of improvement in their play over the last year. I expect upsets in Tunis and look forward to seeing some of these young stars rise to the top.”
He added: “We must also acknowledge the experience of our established players, which will make the tournament even more exciting. The atmosphere in Tunis will rival any global event. Tunisia is a seasoned host with a strong track record, and we’re eager for the tournament to kick off on October 12. The highlight for many teams will be the team event, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London.”
The 2026 edition in London will mark the centenary of the sport, returning to the city where the ITTF and the first World Championships were founded in 1926.
Africa’s best will compete across seven categories — men’s and women’s team and singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles — with all matches taking place at the Rades Multisports Hall.
