Just like they did in 2019, the Egyptian teams showed why they are the best table tennis playing nation in Africa after beating Nigeria to the team event titles in men and women to retain their titles at the 13th African Games taking place at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana.
Though they yet to equal Nigeria’s record of seven titles in the men’s event, but the trio of Omar Assar, Youssef Abdelaziz and Mohamed El-Beiali conquered the Nigeria’s trio of Olajide Omotayo, Quadri Aruna and Taiwo Mati to maintain their unbeaten run in the event in Accra on Friday, March 8, 2024.
Assar defeated Omotayo 3-0 in the first game, while Abdelaziz finally halted Aruna’s dominance with a 3-1 win. El-Beiali edged Mati 3-1 to complete the 3-0 rout by the Egyptians.
Also, the Egyptian female team continued their unbeaten streak dating back 2011 in the table tennis team event after beating Nigeria 3-0 in the final.
The trio of Dina Meshref, Hana Goda and Mariam Alhodaby were dominant against Nigeria’s trio of Offiong Edem, Hope Udoaka and Fatimo Bello to retain their title at the games.
Since dethroning Nigeria at Maputo 2011 in Mozambique, the Egyptian ladies led by Meshref have been dominating the event to continue their reign as the continent’s best female team.
In the history of the games, Nigeria has won the women’s title seven times from 1978 to 2007 while Egypt’s dominance started from 2011 till date.