From October 12 to 19, the city of Tunis, Tunisia, will reverberate with the energy and talent of Africa’s finest table tennis players as the 2025 ITTF-Africa Championships get underway. Athletes from across the continent—East, West, North, Central, and South—have converged on the Tunisian capital, all vying for glory and coveted qualification spots for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom.
While Nigeria’s top-ranked Quadri Aruna is notably absent, the tournament still boasts of a star-studded lineup including Egypt’s Omar Assar, Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa, Tunisia’s Wassim Essid, Egypt’s Hana Goda, Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo, and France-based Abdel-Kader Salifou.
From the leadership of the Tunisia Table Tennis Federation (TTTF) to the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), the spirit of the event is one of celebration and unity.
TTTF President Samir Khelif expressed pride in hosting the prestigious event: “We’re honoured to be chosen once again to host this championship and deeply appreciate the trust of ITTF Africa. As always, we aim to provide warm hospitality and a vibrant atmosphere for all our guests.”
ITTF Africa President Wahid Oshodi also praised Tunisia’s swift response in stepping up after Rwanda’s withdrawal: “We’re immensely grateful to the people of Tunisia for their unwavering support. Their readiness to host on short notice speaks volumes about their commitment to the sport. This championship is all about the players, and Tunisia has created the perfect environment for them to shine.”
With youthful energy and national pride fueling their ambitions, Tunisia’s rising stars are ready to take on Africa’s best and prove they belong on the big stage.
Leading the charge are 14-year-old Ela Saidi and 17-year-old Wassim Essid, key members of the Tunisian team competing at the eight-day tournament taking place at the Rades Multi-Purpose Hall in Tunis from October 12 to 19.
Making her debut at the prestigious event, Saidi described the opportunity to play alongside her idols as a dream come true. “I’m so happy to be competing in my first African Championships, especially sharing the stage with stars like Hana Goda and Omar Assar,” she said.
“It’s a huge honour, and I’ll give my best and perform to the highest level I can. Most importantly, I want to use this experience to grow as a player — facing top opponents will help me improve.”
Essid, fresh off his victory in the boys’ U-17 singles at the WTT Youth Contender Tunis, sees the tournament as another chance to challenge the continent’s elite.
“I’m not going to relax — playing at home means I’ll have the support of the crowd, and I’ll give my best as always,” he said.
“It’s a big opportunity for Tunisia to host this event, and I hope we exceed expectations and make our country proud. We’d love to be part of the journey to London in 2026 through the team event.”
