Nigeria wins hosting rights for 2028 ITTF Africa Championships

By Emmanuel Sekago

Nigeria has secured the hosting rights for the 2028 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships after defeating Tunisia in a vote at the continental body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Tangier, Morocco, paving the way for Lagos to welcome Africa’s leading table tennis players.

Nigeria received 23 votes against Tunisia’s 15, securing the backing of delegates to host the continent’s premier table tennis championship in 2028.

According to results announced at the AGM, 38 votes were cast, comprising 31 delegates present at the meeting and seven authorized proxies. The decision followed presentations by both bidding countries, with delegates opting for a ballot to determine the host.

The victory offers Nigeria another opportunity to showcase its organizational capacity on the continental stage and strengthen its position as a destination for major international table tennis competitions.

Preparations for the championship will require coordination between the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of the tournament.

The AGM also confirmed host nations for several regional and continental table tennis competitions scheduled for 2027 and 2028.

Libya will host the 2027 Africa Cup, while Algeria has been awarded the 2027 African Championships. Botswana will stage the 2027 Youth Championships, with Nigeria set to host the African Para Championships.

For 2028, Nigeria will host the African Championships, Rwanda will stage the Youth Championships, while Egypt has been selected to host the Para Championships. The host nation for the 2028 Africa Cup is yet to be announced.

Nigeria’s successful bid adds to its responsibilities on the continental table tennis calendar, with Lagos expected to become a focal point for Africa’s elite players when the championships take place in 2028.

The competition will bring together players from across the continent to compete for African honors while providing a platform to showcase the growth and development of table tennis on the continent.