Nigeria, Egypt Eye London 2026 Berths as Africa’s Best Gather in Tunis

Nigeria, Egypt Eye London 2026 Berths as Africa’s Best Gather in Tunis 

By Admin 

Africa’s two table tennis powerhouses, Nigeria and Egypt, are set to lead the charge for qualification to the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, as the continent’s top teams converge in Tunis, Tunisia, for the 2025 ITTF African Championships, scheduled from October 12 to 19.

The stakes are especially high this year, as the London edition of the World Championships marks the 100th anniversary of the event. The competition returns to the city where it all began in 1926, and the Tunis showdown serves as Africa’s official qualifying tournament. The top-performing men’s and women’s teams will book their tickets to the centennial global championship.

Top Contenders in Focus

In the men’s event, Nigeria—a dominant force in West African table tennis—and Egypt, the perennial North African champions, are expected to headline the action. They’ll face stiff competition from teams across the continent, including Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.

The women’s draw will see a similar power dynamic, with defending African champions Egypt and strong challengers Nigeria squaring off alongside contenders such as Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the final three days of competition, when the fight for London 2026 qualification is expected to reach its peak, reigniting the storied Nigeria-Egypt rivalry that has defined African table tennis for decades.

London 2026: A Historic Stage for Global Table Tennis

The 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London will feature 64 teams in both the men’s and women’s categories—a significant expansion from the previous 40-team format. This broader structure reflects the sport’s growing global popularity and provides increased opportunities for emerging nations to compete on the world stage.

The centenary tournament will be hosted across two of London’s iconic venues:

The Copper Box Arena (April 28 – May 1) will host the group stage.

The Wembley Arena (May 2 – 10) will feature the knockout rounds and finals.

The format includes Stage 1a and Stage 1b:

Stage 1a involves the top eight teams (seven highest-ranked teams plus host nation), split into two groups. All eight will advance automatically, with results determining seeding.

Stage 1b features the remaining 56 teams across 14 groups. Group winners and the six best runners-up qualify directly, while eight other runners-up will battle in a preliminary knockout round to complete the 32-team main draw.

From the first serve at Copper Box to the final rally at Wembley, London 2026 promises a celebration of global table tennis excellence, while paying tribute to a century of the sport’s evolution.