Quadri Aruna, the world’s 12th-rated table tennis player, will lead Nigerian elite players to the Africa Table Tennis Cup tournament on May 4-6 at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Kenya.
The participating countries will present two players each in men’s and women’s events, while Egypt, as the defending Africa Table Tennis champions in both men’s and women’s events, will nominate two players in addition to the two champions.
Kenya will field four players in each of the men’s and women’s competitions, with Brian Mutua leading the East African squad against the visitors.
Nigerians, Taiwo Mati and Tosin Esther Oribamise will compete in the men’s and women’s Africa Table Tennis competitions, alongside Aruna and Fatimo Bello. Oribamise was a last-minute replacement for Edem Offiong, who was unable to compete due to club commitments in Europe.
Aruna, Assar to Renew Rivalry in Africa Table Tennis Cup
Quadri Aruna will be hoping to rule the continent again after missing out on the 2022 Africa Table Tennis cup. He lost the title then after suffering a thigh injury in the final, allowing Assar to win 4-3. Following his recent performance at international competitions throughout the world, he will be hoping to recapture the crown. Omar Assar, on the other hand, is ranked 33rd in the world and the second-highest-rated African.
In the women’s categories, current African number one female Dina Meshref, who recently won the WTT Champions in China, will face off against compatriot and defending champion Hana Goda, who won her first continental title in Lagos last year.
Meanwhile, Egypt will field a strong six-man team for the men’s and women’s Africa Table Tennis Cup events, led by Dina Meshref and Yousra Helmy, with Ahmed Saleh and Youssef Abdul-Aziz rounding out the North African contingent.
The competition also sees the comeback of Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw, who has yet to regain full fitness after being sidelined by an injury.
This year’s event acts as a warm-up for the first World Championships to be held in Africa in 84 years, which will be held in Durban, South Africa, from May 20 to 28.
