Egyptian table tennis stars Omar Assar and Hana Goda will be putting their records on the line when the 2026 ITTF Africa Cup serves off in Benghazi, Libya, from February 7 to 9.
The annual continental championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Cup, is organised by the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa) in collaboration with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and hosted by the Libyan Table Tennis Federation (LTTF) at the iconic Al Nasr Sports Club.
Assar, who is men’s No. 1 seed, enters the tournament as the most successful player in the men’s singles, with six titles to his name—Yaoundé 2015, Nairobi 2018, Lagos 2019, Lagos 2022, Nairobi 2023, and Tunis 2025. His closest rival, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, has won five editions, including the most recent in Kigali 2024.
Since his semifinal loss to Aruna at the 2020 Africa Cup in Tunis, Assar has remained unbeaten at the Africa Cup, cementing his dominance with back to back victories in Lagos, Nairobi, and Tunis. In Benghazi, he will once again face the challenge of Aruna, as well as rising compatriot Youssef Abdelaziz, who is steadily establishing himself among Africa’s elite.
For Hana Goda, the women’s No. 1 seed, the journey began at just 14 when she stunned the continent by winning her first Africa Cup women’s title in Lagos 2022, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history.
She faltered in Kigali 2024, losing 4–0 in the semifinals to compatriot Mariam Alhodaby, but bounced back in Tunis 2025 to reclaim her crown by defeating Africa’s most decorated player, Dina Meshref, who holds a record nine titles.
Now 18, Goda is determined to follow in Meshref’s footsteps and add to her growing collection of titles. In Libya, she will face stiff competition from Meshref and Alhodaby, as well as Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello, a finalist in Lagos 2022. Tunisia’s Ela Saidi, who impressed in 2025, is also expected to be a strong contender.
With Africa’s finest players converging on Benghazi, the 2026 Africa Cup promises high drama and fierce battles. For Assar and Goda, it is not just about defending records—it is about cementing their legacies as the faces of African table tennis.
This year’s ITTF Africa Cup is set to showcase the continent’s rising stars as they prepare to challenge the established order when the tournament kicks off in Tunis from February 25 to 27.
Nigeria’s Matthew Kuti and Tunisia’s Wassim Essid are eager to make their mark this year. Both players demonstrated their potential at the 2024 African Championships in Ethiopia, with Kuti making his debut at the event.
Essid, a home favourite and a key player for the Tunisian national team, aims to disrupt the dominance of seasoned stars like Egypt’s Omar Assar and Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna. Having excelled in the cadet and junior divisions in Africa, Essid is now looking to achieve similar success at the senior level. Fresh from his international exploits, he will rely on home support to secure a spot at the ITTF World Cup.
Similarly, Kuti has shown consistent performance in Nigeria, winning four national tournaments. His participation in the 2023 African Games in Ghana has boosted his confidence in major competitions. Kuti’s impressive performance at the 2023 African Championship, where he defeated several senior players, indicates that he is ready to make a significant impact in Tunis later this month.
Ahead of the tournament, the President of the Tunisia Table Tennis Federation (TTTF), Lofti Guerfel, expressed confidence in staging and presenting a formidable team.
He said: “As TTTF President, along with my team, we are proud to host top-class competitions. We recognize that such great events bring excitement, inspiration, and moments that can last a lifetime for athletes and fans alike. The intensity of the competition and the camaraderie make all the preparation worthwhile.”
He added: “Our preparations are ongoing. I hope the participation of our athletes in previous WTT Contenders has provided them with valuable experience in international competitions, helping them improve and achieve better results. As a federation, we have put everything in place for our athletes to succeed. We are confident and optimistic about achieving good results that will honour Tunisian table tennis.”
Oshodi was unanimously elected as the 6th President of the ITTF Africa during the Elective Annual general Meeting (AGM) held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last October.
Osho , who took over from Egypt’s Khaled El-Sally, became the second Nigerian to lead the continental body , following Eng. Segun George, who served from 1988 to 1996.
“This year, ITTF Africa is focusing on three core pillars: development, competition, and global visibility,” Oshodi said about his plans for the exciting game of table tennis at the continental level. “For grassroots development, we will expand youth training programs and provide more opportunities for young players to develop their skills.
“We will strengthen our events by making events more attractive, financially sustainable, and globally competitive.
“We intend to raise Africa’s global profile by ensuring that African players and competitions gain greater international recognition while fostering partnerships that bring investment and growth to table tennis in Africa.
“We are excited about the journey ahead and are committed to making 2025 a transformative year for African table tennis,” he noted.
Incidentally, ITTF Africa would be starting Year 2025 on a big note and Oshodi is even more excited that Tunisia noted for its rich history in the game, would be hosting the glamorous ITTF Africa Cup.
“Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Khaled El-Sally, the former ATTF President, for his dedication and efforts in elevating the Africa Cup to its current level,” Oshodi stated matter-of-factly. “His leadership has significantly contributed to the growth of this prestigious event.
He continued as he speaks candidly about his commitment to make the ITTF Africa Cup a more attractive events to stakeholders and fans worldwide.
“As the newly elected ATTF Executive Committee, we are thrilled that the 2025 African Table Tennis Cup will be our first major event of the term. While many of our Executive Council members have been involved in this competition in previous years, this new chapter presents an opportunity for us to innovate and introduce enhancements that will make the event even more exciting and attractive for all stakeholders.
“We have been in close discussions with our top officials, ITTF representatives, and, most importantly, our leading players. These conversations have allowed us to evaluate various aspects of the event and explore ideas for improvements that will quickly become evident.
“This event marks a significant moment—not just for me personally, but for ITTF Africa as we begin implementing our vision for the sport on the continent. Tunisia has a strong history of successfully hosting top-level table tennis events, and I have full confidence that this year’s edition will meet global standards in logistics, hospitality, and competition management.
“We will be working closely with the Tunisian Table Tennis Federation and all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless experience for players, officials, and fans. I look forward to an exciting and memorable tournament that will showcase the best of African table tennis.”
Regarded as the continental showpiece in table tennis, The ITTF AFRICA Cup is an annual table tennis competition held jointly y by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the African Table Tennis Federation.
The competition features men’s and women’s singles events, with 16 players qualifying to take part in each event, subject to a maximum of two players per association.
Yet Oshodi said his newly elected executives would be pulling all the strings to ensure that this edition becomes the talk of the town.
He stated. “We are introducing several innovations aimed at elevating the professional standards of the tournament. We have taken note of the exciting developments in WTT events and plan to integrate some of those elements into the African Cup to enhance its appeal.
“One major focus is on improving officiating quality. For the first time, we will have a world-class Gold Badge umpire mentoring our young international umpires. This initiative will help raise officiating standards across Africa. Additionally, we will be hosting a Level 3 Coaching Course, the highest certification level for our coaches, before the tournament. This is a critical step in equipping our coaches with advanced knowledge, which in turn will improve the development of players across the continent.
”Beyond competition, we hope to transform the African Cup into an entertainment spectacle in years to come. The goal is to make the event more engaging, not just for table tennis enthusiasts but for entire families. We are enhancing media coverage, digital engagement, and fan interaction to bring African table tennis closer to a global audience. We are also exploring improved broadcasting solutions to make the tournament more accessible and enjoyable for viewers worldwide.
“On the financial side, we are working on securing sponsorship deals that will increase prize money and provide long-term financial support to teams, ensuring sustainability and greater participation. “As a qualifier for the ITTF World Cup, the African Cup is already one of the most prestigious tournaments on the continent. While it has been successful, there is always room for improvement. A key challenge has been increasing participation from more African nations.
“A major obstacle for many teams has been the high cost of travel and hospitality. To address this, we have taken a crucial step by securing a partnership with Ethiopian Airlines as the official travel partner of the ATTF. This will help reduce travel costs for member associations.
“ We expect to see the first great impact of this partnership at the Africa Youth Championships in Lagos this July, and we are confident it will encourage more teams to participate in the African Cup as well.
“Additionally, we are focusing on increasing sponsorship and broadcasting deals to boost prize money and enhance the player experience through better facilities and scheduling.” He noted.
With the African Club Championship preceding the African Cup, Oshodi remains optimistic that things would be turned around on all fronts following a clarion call on all member associations ahead of the forthcoming tournaments in Tunis.
“The African Club Championship has seen a decline in participation in recent years. However, we have actively engaged with member associations, and I am pleased to see a rise in team entries from across different regions this year, “ he further said. “After this edition, we will conduct a comprehensive review to determine the best direction for the championship.
“We will analyse the successful club models in Europe and see what strategies we can adopt. Currently, Africa is the only continent still hosting this event in its traditional format, and we will explore ways to modernize and enhance it.
“Our key priorities include increasing visibility and incentives for clubs, introducing a ranking system to add prestige and encourage long-term participation, and expanding marketing and media coverage to make the event more appealing to fans and potential sponsors.” Ahead of what is expected to be an exciting tournaments in Tunis, Oshodi said he has no worries that the North African country with its rich pedigree in table tennis, would host a befitting and a world –class event.
“Tunisia earned the right to host the African Cup based on its proven track record of successfully organizing major sporting events,” he said.“ The Tunisian Table Tennis Federation (TTTF) has always been an excellent partner, and I have personally worked with President Lotfi Guerfel and his team on multiple occasions.
“Their professionalism and commitment give me full confidence that this event will be well-organized and up to international standards.
“Tunisia has also been a consistent host of WTT events, which means they already have experience managing high-level competitions.
“ Over the past few months, we have worked closely with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to refine various aspects of the tournament, and I am assured we will deliver a world-class event in Tunis.”
