Nigeria Edges Egypt In Medal Haul, Secures World Championship Qualification

Nigeria Edges Egypt In Medal Haul, Secures World Championship Qualification

By Niyi Busari 

Nigeria and Egypt reaffirmed their status as Africa’s leading para table tennis nations after a commanding display at the 2025 ITTF-Africa Para Table Tennis Championships, which concluded on Sunday, November 23, in Giza, Egypt, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The four-day event featured top athletes from across the continent including Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire and served as a qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nigeria topped the overall medal table with six gold medals, edging hosts Egypt, who finished with five golds. Côte d’Ivoire also made a notable impact through Bayala Jean Pierre, who clinched a spirited silver medal in the singles event.

Nigeria’s success was spearheaded by 2024 Paralympics bronze medallist Ogunkunle Isau, who triumphed in the Men’s Singles Classes 4–5. The trio of Adesope Abiola Wali, Farinloye Victor, and Lawal Kehinde added to the gold haul with victories in their respective singles categories.

Isau further underlined his class by pairing with Oputa Kate to win the Mixed Doubles Class 10 title. Wali and Kehinde also claimed gold in the Mixed Doubles Classes 14–20 event.

Egypt enjoyed a strong showing in the singles categories as well. Ramadan Khaled defeated compatriot Elmahsy Ahmed to win the Men’s Singles Classes 1–3, while Youssef Sayed overpowered Abdelmoneim Abousteit to claim the Men’s Singles Classes 6–7 title. Abdelwahab Abdelrahman and Mahmoud Faiza capped Egypt’s medals with victories in the Women’s Singles Classes 1–5.

The host nation also displayed depth in the doubles events, with Sayed teaming up with Abdelwahab Abdelrahman to clinch the Men’s Doubles Class MD18 title after a tense 3–2 win over Nigeria’s duo, Wali and Agunbiade Tajudeen, on the final day.

Tournament Director Amr Fahmy hailed the championship as a major success, noting the rising competitiveness and growing participation across Africa.

“We are hopeful that future editions will attract even greater participation, which will further enhance the growth and stature of this championship,” Fahmy said.

By the end of the tournament, eight African athletes secured direct qualification spots for Bangkok 2026, while additional berths will be determined through continental rankings next year, in line with ITTF regulations.