Egyptian table tennis icon, Ahmed Saleh has sounded a note of change in the continental game, predicting the end of the long-standing dominance of Egypt and Nigeria in African table tennis.
Saleh’s remarks follow the thrilling contests at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships held in Accra, Ghana.
Saleh, who currently serves as head coach of the Egyptian national junior team, believes the rise of new talents from Uganda, South Africa, Tunisia, Algeria, and Togo signals a shift in the balance of power.
“I can categorically tell you that the end is near for the dominance of Egypt and Nigeria in African table tennis,” Saleh declared. “We now have players from Uganda, South Africa, Algeria, and Tunisia who are dangerous to play against, while Togo should not be underestimated. From what happened in Ghana, it is clear that more players are coming through from other countries, making it increasingly competitive for any team to hold on to dominance. I see Uganda particularly breaking through because their style of play is unique — their defensive strength is so good that it is difficult to neutralize them on the table.”
The former African champion acknowledged the remarkable improvement in standards, noting that gold medals in Accra were shared among five countries — Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Uganda — a departure from the past when Egypt and Nigeria monopolized the podium.
“I believe in the next two years, no team can be certain of dominating any event,” Saleh added. “Things have changed, every country is working hard, and this is a clear pointer that Africa will soon have more players competing at the very top globally.”
Saleh’s assessment underscores a new era for African table tennis, where the emergence of diverse champions is reshaping the competitive landscape and raising hopes for greater continental representation on the world stage.