Nigeria and Egypt reaffirmed their status as Africa’s leading para table tennis nations after dominating the 2025 ITTF-Africa Para Championships, which concluded on Sunday, November 23, in Giza, Egypt.
The four-day event doubled as a qualifier for the 2026 World Championships in Bangkok, drawing elite competitors from across the continent, including Algeria, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Nigeria finished narrowly ahead of the hosts on the medals table, clinching six gold medals to Egypt’s five in a closely contested championship that showcased the depth of talent across multiple classes.
Paralympics bronze medallist Isau Ogunkunle spearheaded Nigeria’s impressive outing with a commanding performance in the Men’s Singles Classes 4–5, while compatriots Adesope Abiola Wali, Farinloye Victor, and Lawal Kehinde also struck gold in their respective singles categories.
Nigeria further asserted its dominance in the mixed doubles. Ogunkunle teamed up with Kate Oputa to win the Mixed Doubles Class 10 title, before Adesope Abiola Wali and Kehinde combined to clinch gold in the Mixed Doubles Classes 14–20 event.
Côte d’Ivoire also enjoyed a moment of brilliance, with Bayala Jean Pierre capturing a spirited silver medal in the singles, adding a competitive edge to the tournament.
Egypt’s challenge was powered by strong singles victories, including Ramadan Khaled’s win over compatriot Elmahsy Ahmed in the Men’s Singles Classes 1–3, alongside Youssef Sayed’s commanding triumph against Abdelmoneim Abousteit in the Men’s Singles Classes 6–7.
The hosts added more golds through Abdelwahab Abdelrahman and Mahmoud Faiza in the women’s Classes 1–5, underscoring their depth on home soil.
Egypt’s doubles pedigree was on full display on the final day as Sayed and Abdelrahman edged Nigeria’s pair Adesope Abiola Wali and Agunbiade Tajudeen in a thrilling 3–2 contest to seal the Men’s Doubles MD18 title.
Tournament Director Amr Fahmy praised the growing profile of the championship, describing the 2025 edition as a “resounding success.”
“The level of competition continues to rise, with more athletes participating each year,” Fahmy said. “We are hopeful that future editions will attract even greater participation, further enhancing the growth and stature of this championship.”
At the close of competition, eight qualification slots for Bangkok 2026 had already been secured. Additional slots will be determined next year through African rankings, ensuring broader continental representation in the global showpiece.
With Nigeria and Egypt leading the way, the 2025 ITTF-Africa Para Championships reaffirmed Africa’s growing strength in para table tennis and set the stage for an exciting build-up to the world championships in Thailand.
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