President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Waheed Enitan Oshodi, has called for greater investment and international exposure for Africa’s emerging table tennis players, insisting the continent has enough talent to compete with the world’s best.
Oshodi made the call after the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships in Accra, Ghana, where young players from across the continent showcased the depth of talent available in African table tennis.
The championship featured the U-15 and U-19 categories, with Egypt winning three of the four team titles while Nigeria retained the U-19 boys’ crown following a dramatic comeback victory over the North Africans.
Oshodi believes the performances demonstrated that talent is no longer the major issue confronting African table tennis, with the bigger challenge being how to ensure promising youngsters successfully make the transition into the professional ranks.
> “We have fantastic young players across Africa. The challenge is ensuring that we give them the resources, coaching and international exposure they need to develop into successful professionals,” Oshodi said.
The ATTF president stressed that young players need regular opportunities to compete against stronger international opposition if they are to improve their rankings and close the gap with athletes from Europe and Asia.
“Funding and exposure are crucial. Our young players need to play in international tournaments, train with the best coaches and compete regularly against top-level opposition,” he added.
The 2026 Africa Youth Championships provided further evidence of the continent’s growing depth, with champions emerging from different parts of Africa rather than the competition being dominated by one traditional powerhouse.
Oshodi has consistently identified youth development, increased participation, stronger revenue generation and greater international visibility as key priorities for African table tennis. He has also previously stressed the need to attract more corporate investment into the sport and create sustainable pathways for young players.
The former Nigeria Table Tennis Federation president believes Africa can produce more players capable of competing at the highest global level, but warned that talent alone will not be enough without sustained investment.
For Oshodi, the objective is therefore not simply to discover the next generation of African stars, but to ensure they receive the coaching, equipment, tournament exposure and professional opportunities required to turn their potential into international success.
