Offiong Edem became the first Nigerian to qualify for the quarterfinal of the table tennis women’s singles at the 13th African Games taking place in Accra, Ghana.
Offiong who is the only surviving Nigerian in the women’s singles admitted that it was a tough passage to the last eight of the competition.
“I think table tennis is getting tougher now because everybody is playing well and there is no minnow in the game again. Who can imagine that an Algerian girl will beat a Nigerian but it has happened in Ghana. There is no doubt that we must raise our game to make it to the podium and I will surely die here to be able to make the medal zone in the singles,” she said.
After beating Marwa Alhodaby of Egypt 3-0 in the last 16, Edem will face another Egyptian in Mariam Alhodaby in one of the quarterfinal matches.