by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF Member Relations Press Officer

Despite the necessary postponement owing to the pandemic, entries have been received from more than 27 member associations.

Khaled El-Salhy, President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) was most positive,

“ATTF is so keen to make our #RESTART# for table tennis in Africa, and I am sure all officials, players, and coaches are so eager to attend the event. I remember the highest turnout of teams for a major tournament in Africa was in 2001 in Minia, Egypt with 22 countries at an African Cup. My impression with the turnout is that everybody is quite eager for physical table tennis events, and they are so keen to join us in Yaoundé.

The long-time of suspension due to Covid-19, the players are aiming to compete in Africa in order to gain good ranking points, the event is not only the African Championships, but it is the qualifying tournament for 2022 World Championships in China as well.

According to our follow-up with the Cameroon Table Tennis Federation, they are quite ready and we trust them as per our experience in conducting the 2010 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships followed by 2015 ITTF-Africa Cup and Club Championships, both events were very successful.”

Potentially, the top four nations in each of the men’s and women’s team events could gain places at the 2022 World Team Championships.