Giants of African table tennis — Egypt, Nigeria, and Tunisia — announced their arrival in style at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships, delivering flawless performances at the Boertyman Sports Complex in Accra, Ghana.
In the U-19 boys’ event, Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Algeria all marched unbeaten through the group stage to secure their places in the knockout rounds.
Egypt’s U-19 girls went a step further, becoming the first team to book a semifinal spot after dispatching South Africa and Nigeria.
The battle for the second ticket in that group now rests between Nigeria and South Africa, a clash that promises fireworks as both sides aim to join Egypt in the last four.
Group B produced its own drama, with Algeria edging Uganda in a nail-biting decider. Led by the talented Morice sisters — Jade and Tania — the Algerian girls triumphed 3-2, securing top spot while both teams advanced to the semifinals.
The U-15 boys’ category also saw dominant displays. Nigeria and Egypt cruised into the knockout stage after emphatic group victories. Egypt overwhelmed Ghana and Benin Republic to top Group I, while Nigeria defeated Togo and Algeria, setting up a decisive group finale against South Africa.
Tunisia, meanwhile, leads Group 3 after a commanding 3-0 win over Mauritius, with a final showdown against Niger Republic still to come.
Beyond the group battles, the stakes are rising. On Tuesday, 21 July, the competition will enter a crucial phase as finalists in both the U-19 and U-15 events will secure coveted slots at the 2026 ITTF World Youth Championships in Turkey later this year.
