Defending champions Quadri Aruna of Nigeria and Dina Meshref of Egypt are gearing up to defend their titles at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup, scheduled to take place in Tunis, Tunisia, from February 25 to 27. The tournament will not only determine the continent’s best but also serve as a qualifier for the 2025 ITTF World Cup in Macao, China, this April.
As the first event on the ITTF Africa calendar, the competition is expected to be intense, featuring top players from across the continent. The four semifinalists in both the men’s and women’s categories will automatically secure their spots at the World Cup.
The tournament will be held at the El-Menzah Sports Palace, a 5,500-capacity venue, and will offer a total prize pool of $25,000. Aruna, a five-time champion, is set to renew his rivalry with Egypt’s Omar Assar, who has also won the title five times. Other strong contenders include Benin’s Abdel-Kabir Salifou, Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu, and Tunisia’s Wassim Essid.
In the women’s category, nine-time champion Meshref will face stiff competition from rising Egyptian star Hana Goda, Africa’s number-one ranked player, as well as 2024 runner-up Mariam Alhodaby.
Lotfi Guerfel, President of the Tunisia Table Tennis Federation, assured that preparations are in place for a well-organized and widely accessible event, with live streaming and timely updates. Wahid Enitan Oshodi, President of ITTF Africa, highlighted the rapid growth of table tennis on the continent, emphasizing the tournament’s role in showcasing both established and emerging talents.
The 2025 IITF Africa Cup will kick off with a preliminary round on the opening day, followed by knockout stages on the final two days. The top four players in each category will advance to the ITTF Singles World Cup in Macao, scheduled for April 14–20, 2025.
