Nigeria and Egypt Secure Spots at ITTF Global Junior Championships

Nigeria and Egypt have secured their spots at the 2026 ITTF World Youth Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, following their triumphs in the team events at the Africa Youth Championships in Accra.

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The Egyptian teams that will be representing Africa include the U-15 boys and girls teams, as well as the U-19 girls’ squad, all of which will compete in the global tournament scheduled to take place from November 21–28.

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Nigeria's U-19 boys’ team will also be flying the flag for Africa, rounding out the continent's representation at the esteemed event.

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ITTF Africa Deputy President Alfred Bagueka expressed his satisfaction with the rising level of competition at the Africa Youth Championships in Accra, noting the high standard of play and the quality of the teams that will be heading to Turkey.

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Bagueka stated, "I am particularly impressed with the outcome of this year’s tournament, which saw more teams and players participate, resulting in tougher and more exciting competition, with significant improvement evident across all teams, especially among the lesser-known sides."

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Looking to the future, Bagueka acknowledged the progress made while emphasizing the need for African players to ascend further on the global stage, citing the examples of Omar Assar and Quadri Aruna, who have been among the world's best in recent years.

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Bagueka stressed that African players must strive to reach the top 20 globally, saying, "We must redouble our efforts to ensure our players reach that level, and I am hopeful that these young talents can break through at the world stage."