In the ever cheering hall of international table tennis, a new wave is rising — fast, fierce, and undeniably African. Once overlooked in the global arena, a new generation of African stars is stepping up to the arena, not just to compete but to conquer. With blistering skills and techniques, unwavering determination, perfect execution and dreams as vast as the continent itself, these athletes are rewriting Africa’s narrative in a sport long dominated by Asia and Europe.
Table tennis, being one of the most popular sports in the world, is becoming more widely accepted in Africa, with Egypt and Nigeria stealing the show in men’s and women’s events. Unlike most sports where it is tough to rank athletes as opinions vary and the best athletes are often debated, African table tennis players are ranked by International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), based on their performances in ITTF-sanctioned events, with the rankings updated periodically to reflect recent tournament results.
Egyptian star Omar Assar is currently the most successful male table tennis player in Africa, often competing at the very highest levels. Assar, who boasts 13 continental titles, has achieved a remarkable level of success. The Egyptian is the second African to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup Championships and the only African to reach two consecutive quarter-finals at the Olympic Games. The 33-year-old, whose achievements leave no room for doubt, defeated Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna to win 2025 ITTF Africa Cup. Assar overcame Aruna in a closely contested seven-set battle to win the Men’s Singles title in Tunisia. He secured a tight 4-3 victory (11-3, 14-16, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-16) to win his sixth African title. Both Assar and Aruna entered the final with five ITTF Africa Cup titles each, but it was the Egyptian who came out on top in a dramatic contest.
Aruna is another highly-decorated player with multiple Olympic appearances and a strong record in the ITTF World Tour. The 36-year-old is the first African player to be ranked in the top 10 in the world. Aruna competed for Nigeria at the 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals in 2016. The Nigerian star overtook Egypt’s Assar in March 2025 to become Africa’s highest-ranked player. Despite finishing as runner-up at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup, Aruna’s impressive performances at the WTT tournaments this year have boosted his ranking by the ITTF, the governing body for all national table tennis associations. Aruna remains the only African male player to have reached the semi-finals of the WTT Contender in Doha, repeating his 2023 feat earlier this year with another semi-finals finish.
Following closely the two best male players in Africa is Mohamed El-beiali, who has been widely recognized as the second-best player in the Egyptian national team. El-beiali’s best performance at the continental level came when he finished as Vice Champion at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup in Rwanda. He has also been a consistent member of the gold-medal winning Egyptian men’s team at the African Championships. As the third highest-ranked African player, the Egyptian has established himself as one of the best players on the continent.
Nigeria’s Omotayo Olajide is a strong player who has also achieved significant success in the ITTF World Tour. Plying his trade in Italy, Olajide is currently ranked 100th in the ITTF Men’s Singles World Ranking. He defeated his compatriot Aruna to win gold in the Men’s Singles at the 2019 African Games, his debut appearance. Olajide, known for his offensive playing style with a strong topspin stroke, secured a five-year sponsorship deal with a German manufacturer of kits, Gewo, in 2017. He competed for Nigeria at the 2016 African Championship (doubles event) and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia, winning bronze and silver respectively. His first international appearance for Nigeria was in 2008 as a cadet at the 2008 African Junior and Cadet Championships, which was held in Alexandria, Egypt.
In Women’s Singles, Egyptian Hana Goda, has already established herself as one of Africa’s most decorated players. At just 17, she has won multiple continental titles and will go down in history as the first African to be ranked No. 1 in any age category. At 14, she won the 2022 Africa Cup in Lagos, Nigeria, making her the youngest winner of the continental title. Her swift ascent to stardom has not surprised many table tennis enthusiasts, as the Egyptian has consistently showcased her talent by winning several age-grade competitions at both continental and global levels.
On the heels of Goda in the Women’s Singles is another Egyptian, Dina Meshref, who is currently ranked No. 2 in Africa. Meshref represented Egypt at 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics. The Egyptian star comes from a family of table tennis players, with both parents being national champions. Meshref won her first African title in 2011 before claiming seven consecutive titles from 2014 and 2020. The American University in Cairo graduate won her latest African title in 2022, climbiing 21 spots in the table tennis world ranking to reach the rank of 29. Meshref was a gold medallist at the 2018 Mediterranean Games. On 10 August 2022, Meshref signed to the Greek club, Panathinaikos, competing in the European Champions League.
In hot pursuit of Meshref in the Women’s Singles ranking is Egypt’s Mariam Alhodaby, who won the women’s team gold medal at the 2019 Africa Games in Rabat. She is a gold medallist in the Women’s Singles and bronze medallist in the women’s doubles at the 2021 African Table Tennis Championships in Yaounde. At the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran, Alhodaby added another feather in her cap by winning a gold medal. In March 2024, she won the gold medal in the women’s doubles, mixed doubles and the women’s team at the Africa Games in Accra. Alhodaby is a team gold medallist, a silver medallist in the women’s singles as well as the mixed doubles and a bronze medallist in the women’s doubles at the 2024 African Table Tennis Championships in Addis Ababa.
In the tracks of the top-ranked Egyptian trio is Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello, ranked fourth in Africa and 92nd in the world. Bello is an important member of the Nigeria’s female table tennis team, stepping into the significant role once held by legends like Olufunke Oshunaike and Offiong Edem. However, at 27, she has yet to fully maximize her capabilities on both the continental and global stages. Based in Italy, the southpaw made her Olympic debut in Paris. Table tennis enthusiasts believe that enhancing her footwork could be the key to her success in major tournaments.
However, if the outcomes of the recently-held 2025 ITTF World Cup in Macoa are anything to go by, African players must step up their game in order to establish themselves as a dominant force at global championships. African players concluded their participation at the tournament as Egypt’s Assar, Meshref, Goda and Nigeria’s Aruna all failed to advance to the second stage of the prestigious tournament. Assar was the first to face defeat, losing 3-1 to South Korea’s Jaehyun, as the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup champion was overcome by the Asian star. Meshref also put up a spirited fight against China’s Man Kuai, but ultimately fell 3-1. Goda faced European superstar Sofia Polcanova and, despite a strong performance fell 3-1. Aruna was the last African player to exit the tournament. Despite having an edge in the fiirst two sets against Sweden’s Anton Kallberg, Aruna fell 4-0, failing to advance to the second stage.
As the world watches with rapt attention the message is clear: Africa is no longer a distant participant in the global table tennis story, it is a contender. With every swing of the bat and every point won, these rising stars are not just chasing medals; they are forging a legacy, a legacy of inspiration to millions, and proving that the future of table tennis may very well be written in African languages.
References:
- “African stars exit 2025 ITTF World Cup”. By Olalekan Okusan for ITTF Africa, April 2025.
- “New Rule in Favour of the Development of Table Tennis”. Ittf.com. 12 March 2012.
- “ITTF African Cup 2025: Table Tennis stars battle for glory”. TRTAFRiKA. 24 Februry 2025.
- “World Table Tennis established with good governance”. Ittf.com. 23 January 2021.
Follow this link to subscribe to Moor Sportz’ YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@moorsportz?si=mP2enM9rkCCSFUas
Please note that we don’t have the copyright ownership of the photos here.
Story edited by Niyi Akinola.
