From 25 to 27 February, the continent’s best players will compete at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Cup 2025 for a place at the ITTF Singles World Cup Macao 2025. Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar, Dina Meshref and Hana Goda lead the field.
One of the biggest events of the year for African table tennis will take place in Tunis at the end of February at the Menzah Sports Palace, a multi-purpose arena with a capacity of 5,500 spectators. The venue has previously hosted basketball, volleyball, table tennis and other major sporting events.
This tournament is crucial for African table tennis as it brings together the continent’s best players with a prize money of $25,000 (€23,817) and four qualifying spots for the ITTF Singles World Cup Macao 2025.
Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, the reigning African champion, will be looking to defend his title in a men’s draw that will see the return of his long-time rival, Egypt’s Omar Assar, the tournament’s most decorated player. The likes of Benin’s Abdel-Kabir Salifou, Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu and Tunisia’s Wassim Essid will also be looking to cause an upset.
On the women’s side, six-time African champion Dina Meshref will defend her crown against rising star Hana Goda, the continent’s number one ranked player, and 2024 runner-up Mariam Alhodaby.
“The level of table tennis in Africa has grown exponentially over the last few years. This tournament is not only a platform for established players but also an opportunity for young talents to make a name for themselves,” said Wahid Enitan Oshodi, President of ITTF Africa.
The ITTF African Cup 2025 will feature a preliminary round on the opening day followed by a knockout stage on the final two days. The four semi-finalists in both categories will automatically qualify for the ITTF Singles World Cup Macao 2025, which will be held from 14 to 20 April 2025.
Meanwhile, ITTF Africa has announced a sponsorship agreement with Stag Global to provide official equipment for the continent’s top tournaments until 2026. “We are proud to work with ITTF Africa to strengthen table tennis in the region,” said Pooja Kohli, Director of Stag Global.
With world-class players and a city fully committed to the event, the ITTF African Cup 2025 promises to be one of the most exciting editions in recent years. Tunis is ready to welcome the elite of African table tennis.
