Nigeria beats Tunisia to win hosting rights for 2028 Africa Table Tennis Championships

Nigeria has won the hosting rights for the 2028 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships after defeating Tunisia in a closely contested vote at the continental body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Tangier, Morocco.

The West African nation secured 23 votes against Tunisia’s 15 from the 38 votes cast, comprising 31 delegates present at the meeting and seven authorised proxies.

Nigeria’s experience in organising major international table tennis competitions and its reputation for efficient event management reportedly helped strengthen its bid for the continental tournament.

Following presentations by both bidding countries, delegates agreed to determine the host nation through a vote, with Nigeria emerging victorious.

Reacting to the outcome, President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Adesoji Tayo, expressed appreciation to ITTF Africa and its member associations for the confidence reposed in Nigeria.

He pledged that the country would deliver a world-class championship in Lagos, assuring athletes, officials and fans of a memorable tournament.

“We want to thank all the delegates for placing their trust in Nigeria to host both the 2028 African Championships and the 2027 African Para Championships,” Tayo said.

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“As experienced organisers of major international table tennis events, we are committed to delivering a seamless and successful tournament. Lagos will once again welcome the continent’s finest players, and we assure all visitors that Nigeria will be the place to be in 2028.”

Tayo said hosting the championships would further strengthen Nigeria’s standing as a leading destination for international table tennis competitions and provide an opportunity to showcase the country’s organisational capacity to the African sporting community.

The AGM also confirmed host countries for several continental competitions scheduled for 2027 and 2028.

Libya will host the 2027 Africa Cup, while Algeria will stage the African Championships. Botswana was selected to host the Youth Championships, with Nigeria set to organise the African Para Championships.

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

The dual hosting responsibility awarded to Nigeria for the 2027 African Para Championships and the 2028 African Championships is expected to provide further opportunities to promote table tennis and strengthen the country’s profile on the continent.

With Lagos selected as the venue for the 2028 championships, Nigeria will have the opportunity to welcome Africa’s leading players and officials while showcasing its capacity to stage major international sporting events.