Host nation Ghana continued its dream run at the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships with another memorable victory over continental powerhouse Egypt, booking a place in the U-15 Mixed Doubles final after a thrilling five-set encounter in Accra.
Sports247 reports that the Ghanaian pairing of Israel Aklie and Joanita Borteye produced a spirited performance to edge Egypt’s Hussein Eyad and Malak Zaki 3-2 in a pulsating semi-final.
The match lived up to expectations as both pairs traded points in a fiercely contested battle, with the home favourites displaying remarkable composure under pressure to delight the local fans.
Backed by a vocal crowd, Aklie and Borteye held their nerve in the decisive moments to complete a famous victory, extending Ghana’s impressive campaign on home soil and keeping alive hopes of a gold medal in the mixed doubles event.
For Egypt, the defeat brought an end to another promising run despite an otherwise dominant championship. The North African nation has remained one of the standout teams in Accra, collecting multiple team titles and reaching the latter stages across several individual events.
Ghana’s victory, however, highlighted the growing competitiveness of African table tennis, with the hosts proving capable of challenging and overcoming one of the continent’s traditional heavyweights.
The result also sets up an exciting U-15 Mixed Doubles final, where Israel Aklie and Joanita Borteye will aim to cap their remarkable journey by claiming the continental title in front of their home supporters.
As the championship reaches its climax, Ghana’s latest triumph has added another memorable chapter to an already captivating tournament, further showcasing the bright future of youth table tennis across Africa.
