Tangier Sets Stage for Continental Table Tennis Showdown

Tangier, a major port city in northwestern Morocco, is set to welcome some of Africa’s finest table tennis players as the 2026 ITTF Africa Championships serve off on Sunday, October 18, and run until October 25.

Hosted by the Royal Moroccan Table Tennis Federation (RMTTF) and organised by the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), the week-long tournament is one of the flagship events on the continental calendar. Beyond determining Africa’s table tennis champions, the competition will also serve as a qualifier for the 2027 ITTF World Championships, setting the stage for an intense battle among the continent’s leading nations.

In addition to the men’s and women’s team events, players will compete for honours in the men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles and singles categories. The singles event is expected to provide a thrilling climax as Africa’s leading players seek individual glory and an opportunity to strengthen their standing ahead of the 2027 ITTF World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, which will mark the first time the global showpiece is staged in Central Asia.

With the venue ready and participating teams arriving, attention is turning to the battle for continental supremacy, particularly in the team events. Defending champions Egypt will be aiming to maintain their dominance in the absence of traditional rivals Nigeria, who are missing the championships after failing to participate in the Western Region tournament held earlier this year in Conakry, Guinea.

However, Egypt’s quest to retain its titles is unlikely to be straightforward. Algeria, Tunisia, hosts Morocco and Madagascar are among the nations expected to challenge the Egyptians and disrupt their dominance of African table tennis.

Speaking ahead of the championships, ITTF Africa President Wahid Enitan Oshodi praised Morocco for its preparations, describing the arrangements as a positive reflection of the country’s commitment to hosting a successful continental event.

“So far, so good. Everything is looking positive for us to have a successful tournament, as the hosts have paid close attention to every detail. The logistics put in place for the participating teams have also been encouraging.

“What matters to us as a continental federation is the wellbeing of the players. We need to create an environment that allows them to perform at their best, and I believe that has been achieved. We cannot wait to see this tournament produce another generation of superstars.

“What makes this championship particularly special is the presence of some of Africa’s finest young players, who demonstrated their potential at the last African Youth Championships in Accra, Ghana.

“I must commend the people and government of Morocco for the warm welcome extended to us, from the airport to the hotels and the competition venue. We are looking forward to another explosive championship featuring world-class matches, and I hope the eyes of the table tennis world will be on Tangier over the next week,” Oshodi said.

President of the Royal Moroccan Table Tennis Federation, Anas Ziati, described hosting the continental showpiece as a great honour for Morocco.

He noted that the championship reinforces the country’s position as a unifying force in African sport, bringing nations together through competition while strengthening relationships among member associations.

“Morocco is proud of its African identity and delighted to host this major event. We look forward to strengthening cooperation, exchanging expertise and working together for the development of our sport in Africa,” Ziati said.

The championships return to Morocco for the first time since 2016, when the coastal city of Agadir hosted the continental competition. Tangier will now take centre stage as Africa’s best players gather to compete for titles, national pride and continental supremacy.