New Singles Champions Set To Emerge At 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships

New Singles Champions Set To Emerge At 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships

By Niyi Busari 

The stage is set for the crowning of new singles champions at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships as the tournament reaches its climax on Monday, July 27, at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, Ghana, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

After seven days of high-quality competition featuring athletes from more than 20 African nations, the continent's finest young table tennis players will battle for U-15 and U-19 singles honours.

Egypt reaffirmed its dominance in the team events, claiming three of the four titles on offer, while Nigeria successfully defended the U-19 boys' team championship.

In the U-15 boys' singles, Nigeria's Umar Ayoola and Joshua Samson produced impressive quarterfinal victories to secure semifinal places. Samson recorded the standout result of the round with a commanding 3-0 win over Uganda's top seed, Joseph Sebantidinra, while Ayoola defeated Egypt's third seed, Ahmed Elsabbagh, 3-1.

Egypt's second seed, Asser Sameh, recovered from losing the opening game to beat Togo's Ganiou Abdourahman 3-1, while Tunisia's Amine Amori edged Egypt's Mohamed Kosba 3-2 in a closely contested encounter. Sameh and Amori will contest the second semifinal.

The U-15 girls' singles also produced exciting quarterfinal action. Nigeria's Aishat Rabiu advanced with a 3-1 victory over Algeria's Assil Sarri to set up a semifinal showdown against Tunisia's top seed, Ela Saidi, who defeated Egypt's Daleela Maghoub by the same margin.

In the other semifinal, Egypt's Malak Zaki progressed with a convincing 3-0 win over Tunisia's Elee Abassi, while Uganda's Patience Ayango battled past Nigeria's Aziza Sezuo 3-2.

In the U-19 girls' event, Uganda's Jemimah Nakawala remains one of the tournament's biggest stories after eliminating Egypt's top seed, Yara Elbadawy, with a dominant 4-1 victory in the round of 16. Buoyed by the upset, Nakawala believes she has what it takes to capture the continental title.

"Initially I thought the match against Yara would be longer and tougher, but after the first two games I was confident I would win. I think the coast is now clear for me to claim the title this year," she said.

African Table Tennis Federation President Wahid Oshodi hailed the overall standard of competition, noting the growing depth of talent across the continent.

"We now have more players performing at a very high level, which makes the tournament more competitive. Our member associations must be commended for their investment in the players, and we hope that some of these athletes will become stars in the near future," Oshodi said.

With the singles finals now in sight, Africa's brightest young table tennis talents are poised to deliver another day of thrilling action as they compete for continental supremacy in Accra.