The opening day of the 2026 ITTF Africa Cup in Benghazi, Libya, was a showcase of Africa’s emerging table tennis talents, as youngsters disrupted the established hierarchy with stunning performances against seasoned opponents.
Algeria’s teenage prodigy, Tania Morice, stole the spotlight. Making her debut at the continental championship, the unseeded player delivered a flawless run in a group that featured Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello, the 2022 runner-up, and Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana, seeded fourth and fifth, respectively.
Morice recorded emphatic 3–1 victories over both opponents, topping her group to advance to the knockout stage of the women’s singles.
“I’m really glad to win. I had a good feeling as I believed I could win,” she said with delight.
Egypt’s Badr Mostafa, the reigning African Youth Champion, also made headlines with a spirited 3–2 triumph over Tunisia’s Wassim Essid. Reflecting on the hard-fought encounter, Mostafa admitted to feeling nervous before the match but credited his preparation and growth for the victory.
“Thank God, I was able to win because Wassim is one of the best players in Africa, and this wasn’t the first time I’ve played against him. This match was difficult, especially at the beginning, but I’m really happy with the win. Matches are always different, but I’ve worked hard, gained more experience, and that’s helped me perform better now,” he explained.
Despite the upsets, the tournament’s top seeds lived up to expectations, advancing smoothly to the knockout stage.
In the men’s singles, Omar Assar, Quadri Aruna, Youssef Abdelaziz, and Mehdi Bouloussa all progressed with ease.
On the women’s side, Hana Goda, Dina Meshref, and Mariam Alhodaby maintained their dominance, brushing aside spirited challenges from younger opponents.
With the stage set for Day 2 on Sunday, February 8, the competition intensifies as players battle for podium finishes and coveted tickets to the ITTF World Cup.
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