African table tennis powerhouses Nigeria and Egypt are set to learn their opponents for the 2026 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships today, Monday, January 26, 2026. The tournament will take place in London from April 28 to May 10, marking the centenary anniversary of the International Table Tennis Federation. The official draw ceremony will be held at The Shard, London’s tallest building, revealing the matchups for what promises to be a landmark edition of the championships.
In the men’s event, 12 African teams, including Nigeria, Egypt, Benin, Tunisia, Algeria, Togo, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Angola, will compete among 64 nations vying for global honours. The women’s competition features 11 African teams: Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Madagascar, Algeria, Tunisia, Uganda, South Africa, Angola, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both events feature 64 teams each, comprising qualifiers from continental championships, teams earning spots via world rankings, and host nation England.
Nigeria secured its place in London following impressive performances at the 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis, Tunisia. The three-time African champions dominated Group B, recording 3–0 victories over Cameroon and South Africa to confirm qualification.
The championships will run for 13 days across two iconic London venues. The tournament format includes Stage 1B group matches to determine qualification pathways, Stage 1A seeding matches for top-ranked teams, and Stage 2 knockout rounds where the world’s elite will compete for the championship title.
This edition marks 100 years since the inaugural ITTF World Table Tennis Championships were held in England, celebrating the sport’s global growth while giving Nigeria and other African teams the chance to challenge the world’s best on the international stage.
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