The bustling capital of Tunisia, Tunis, is set to host Africa’s top table tennis players for the 2025 ITTF African Cup, a key qualifier for the ITTF Singles World Cup Macao 2025. 

From February 25 to 27, the El Menzah Multi-Purpose Stadium will be the venue for this prestigious tournament, which boasts a $25,000 prize pool. Among the competitors are some of Africa’s finest, including the defending champions in Men’s and Women’s Singles, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Dina Meshref. 

This tournament promises an exciting mix of youth and experience, as young talents challenge seasoned players for tickets to Macao 2025. Notable stars like Aruna and Egypt’s Omar Assar will be competing, drawing all eyes to Tunis for three electrifying days. Assar, who has won the title more times than any other player in Africa, will face a formidable challenge against the star-studded lineup expected in the Tunisian capital. 

Local favourite Wassim Essid will also be in action, showcasing his skills against top international players. The 2024 edition, held in Kigali, Rwanda, saw Aruna dominate in the absence of Assar, culminating in a decisive victory over Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali in the final. 

Aruna will face tough competition from players like Abdel-Kabir Salifou of Benin Republic and Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu, as well as Tunisia’s youthful duo of Essid and Myshaal Sabhi. 

In the Women’s Singles, Meshref, a six-time African champion, will defend her title against top-ranked African player Hana Goda and 2024 runner-up Mariam Alhodaby. Check out the full list of players here. 

The tournament will determine the players who will represent Africa at the ITTF Singles World Cup in Macao, with semifinalists in the Men’s and Women’s Singles expected to secure their spots for the event in April 2025. 

The tournament will kick off with the preliminary round on the first day, followed by the knockout stage over the final two days. Semifinalists will earn their tickets to Macao 2025, while the battle for the podium will climax the events in the Men’s and Women’s Singles. Besides the tickets to the ITTF Singles World Cup, players will also be aiming for ranking points from one of the continent’s elite tournaments. 

Event Essentials: 

• VENUE: El Menzah, Tunis 

• DATE: February 25-27, 2025 

• PRIZE MONEY: $25,000 

• LIVESTREAM: ITTF Africa Youtube Channel