by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF Africa, Media Officer

In the boys’ category, Egypt, Tunisia and Congo Brazzaville will represent Africa at the World Juniors while in the girls’ category, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria will be Africa’s flagbearers in Italy.

Also, the eight-man contingent that will represent Africa at this year’s ITTF World Cadet Challenge has been named by the continental ruling body in Tunis, Tunisia.

The team emerged after the 2017 ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships with Egypt’s Mohamed Azzam and Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci leading the boys and girls team to the tournament being held in Fiji from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th October.

13-year-old Mohamed Azzam, who was unbeaten at the African Junior and Cadet Championship, will be joined in the boys’ team by Tunisia’s Youssef Ben Attia, Congo Brazzaville’s Regis Kiassi and Algeria’s Abdelbasset Chaichi.

Kiassi and Chaichi are making a return to the team having participated at the 2016 edition of the event in Shanghai, China, while Azzam and Ben Attia will be making their debuts.

Cadet girls’ champion, Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci will have Egypt’s Hana Mahmoud, Algeria’s Houda Nourhane Taguerdifi as well as South Africa’s Kiara Naidoo in the girls’ team. Also, the four girls will all be making their debuts at the World Cadet Challenge.

Unlike others, South Africa’s Kiara Naidoo made her international debut in Tunis and her performance in the cadet singles where she finished eighth secured her a place in the team.

A three-man coaching crew made up of Egypt’s Bacent Othmane, Tunisia’s Ghazi Ben Kahia and Algeria’s Salim Hamani will guide the team at the championship.

Meanwhile, players from one of Africa’s powerhouses in table tennis – Nigeria will be missing the tournament for the third consecutive time with their last appearance being in 2014.