Its only been a few days since the Nigeria men’s team put an end to Egypt’s prolonged reign at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Championships, held in Mauritius, and the victory is yet to grow cold as the ITTF president has issued a congratulatory message to the Nigerian team for a job well done in dispatching the Egyptians.
For the past eight years Egypt has maintained dominance over the men’s team event and have represented the continent severally at the ITTF World Team Cup — their last appearance being at the London 2018 event. However, for the first time since 2010, Nigeria will represent Africa at the 2019 edition in Tokyo, Japan.African Women’s Champion, Dina Meshref, of Egypt, with Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri, the African Men’s Champion. nan.ng
In a statement signed by the ITTF President, Thomas Weikert, and addressed to the president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Ishaku Tikon, the ITTF boss saluted the Nigeria team for its brilliant display in the finals which led to the victory of the decade against a very fierce Egyptian side.
“Congratulations to the winner of the Men’s Team Event at this year’s African Championships. After the victory 10 years ago, Nigeria was able to put on the crown again. In a high-class final against the defending Champion, Egypt, your team could assert itself in many close games and can now call itself Africa champion. Congratulations again!”
– Weikert
