12th African Games: Nigeria, Egypt Face-Off For Table Tennis Gold and Olympics Slot

Table Tennis

True to bookmakers prediction, the two best table tennis playing nations in Africa – Nigeria and Egypt will come against each other in the final of the table tennis team event at the 12th African Games holding in Rabat, Morocco.

The gold medal and the ticket to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are at stake in the encounter involving West and North African nations in Morocco.

As top seeds, the two teams had a flawless passage to the final without dropping a match with Nigeria men team beating hosts Morocco and Congo Brazzaville to seal their place in the final while Egypt also humbled Ghana and Tunisia on their way to the final.

Aruna Quadri in Action
Aruna Quadri featured for the first time as Nigeria breezed into the final

Egypt as the top seeds in the women event were without much worries on their passage to the final as they took down Ethiopia and Algeria while Olufunke Oshonaike led Nigeria in their unbeaten run to the final with a convincing 3-0 bashing of Morocco and Tunisia to set up another consecutive final against the Egyptians.

Dina Meshref
Dina Meshref will lead Egypt’s charge against Nigeria

Oshonaike who is bidding to make the Olympics for a record seventh time believes says “nothing can stop” Nigeria from avenging their defeat to Egypt at the 2015 Brazzaville Games and clinch the sole ticket to Tokyo.

“We are set for the Egyptians and we are just looking to grab the gold medal and the ticket to Japan. We have been unlucky against them in most of our previous meetings but this time around I hope the luck will come our way.

“My teammates are in good shape and we are all playing well. We had dreamt the ticket and gold medal and nothing can stop us from mounting the podium,” Oshonaike said.

Funke Oshonaike serves a ball
Funke Oshonaike is chasing a record-breaking seventh Olympics appearance

However, Egypt’s Yousra Helmy believes it promises to be an exciting and tough encounter considering the present form of the two teams.

“It is going to be tough match because we have been meeting in final in the last five years and I hope we can overcome the Nigerians this year again just like we did in Congo Brazzaville four years ago.

Yousra Helmy

“It is double pressure for the two teams because the gold medal and the ticket to Tokyo will be at stake. We are indeed sure of our victory but it will be a tough match for both teams,” she added.

The final holds today, Friday, August 23 with winners securing places at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.