By Tayo Ogunseye
Nigeria has secured the hosting rights for the 2028 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships after defeating Tunisia in a vote at the ITTF Africa Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Tangier, Morocco.
Nigeria garnered 23 votes to emerge victorious in the contest, while Tunisia received 15 votes, following presentations by both countries and a decision by delegates to determine the host through a ballot.
The voting involved 38 certified votes, comprising 31 delegates present at the AGM and seven authorised proxies.
Nigeria’s experience in hosting major international table tennis competitions and its reputation for effective event management reportedly strengthened its bid for the continental championship.
The AGM also confirmed host nations for several African table tennis competitions scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
In 2027, Libya will host the Africa Cup, Algeria will stage the African Championships, Botswana will organise the Youth Championships, while Nigeria will host the African Para Championships.
For 2028, Nigeria has been awarded the African Championships, Rwanda will host the Youth Championships, and Egypt will stage the Para Championships. The host nation for the 2028 Africa Cup is yet to be announced.
Reacting to the outcome, President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Adesoji Tayo, expressed appreciation to ITTF Africa and its member associations for the confidence reposed in Nigeria.
Tayo pledged that Nigeria would deliver a world-class championship in Lagos, promising a memorable experience for players, officials and fans from across the continent.
“We want to thank all the delegates for placing their trust in Nigeria to host both the 2028 African Championships and the 2027 African Para Championships,” he said.
“As experienced organisers of major international table tennis events, we are committed to delivering a seamless and successful tournament. Lagos will once again welcome the continent’s finest players, and we assure all visitors that Nigeria will be the place to be in 2028.”
He added that hosting the championships would further enhance Nigeria’s reputation as a leading destination for international table tennis events in Africa.
The 2028 championships are also expected to provide an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its organisational capacity while promoting the growth and development of table tennis across the continent.
