The President of the African Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi, has expressed strong optimism that Africa could produce a world table tennis champion within the next five years as the continent continues to close the gap on global leaders in the sport.
Oshodi, who also serves as an Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation, said African players have shown remarkable progress in recent years, competing strongly against top-ranked athletes from Asia and Europe.
He noted that standout players such as Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar and Dina Meshref have demonstrated that African athletes can consistently challenge the world’s best.
According to him, the rise of non Asian players in the global top rankings is evidence that the sport is becoming more open and competitive. He also referenced the breakthrough of Brazilian star Hugo Calderano as proof that new champions can emerge from outside traditional powerhouses.
Oshodi highlighted the historic performance of Egyptian teenager Hana Goda, who reached the quarter finals of the ITTF World Cup, as a sign of Africa’s growing potential. He said such achievements reflect the narrowing gap between African players and their global counterparts.
The ATTF president emphasised that youth development remains central to the federation’s strategy, noting that Africa’s large young population provides a strong foundation for future success. He added that efforts are underway to secure funding and improve access to training equipment across member associations.
He also mentioned emerging talents such as Matthew Kuti, Wassim Essid and Joseph Sebatindira as part of the next generation expected to drive African table tennis forward.
Oshodi concluded by reaffirming his belief that with sustained investment, structured development and continued exposure, Africa could soon celebrate its first world table tennis champion in either the men’s or women’s category.
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