Emerging stars took centre stage on the opening day of the 2026 ITTF Africa Cup in Benghazi, Libya, delivering impressive performances that shook up the established hierarchy of African table tennis.
Algeria’s teenage sensation, Tania Morice, was the standout performer in the women’s singles.
Making her debut at the Africa Cup, the unseeded youngster produced a flawless display in a highly competitive group that featured Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello, the 2022 runner-up, and Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana, seeded fourth and fifth respectively.
Morice recorded convincing 3–1 victories over both opponents to top her group and secure a place in the knockout stage.
“I’m really glad to win. I had a good feeling and believed I could win,”
Morice said after her impressive outing.
In the men’s singles, Egypt’s reigning African Youth Champion Badr Mostafa also grabbed headlines with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Tunisia’s Wassim Essid.
The young Egyptian admitted to early nerves but credited his preparation and growing experience for the breakthrough result.
“Thank God, I was able to win because Wassim is one of the best players in Africa,” Mostafa said. “The match was difficult, especially at the beginning, but I’ve worked hard, gained more experience, and that helped me perform better.”
Despite the early upsets, several top seeds justified their status. In the men’s event, Omar Assar, Quadri Aruna, Youssef Abdelaziz, and Mehdi Bouloussa all advanced comfortably to the knockout rounds.
On the women’s side, Hana Goda, Dina Meshref, and Mariam Alhodaby maintained their dominance, overcoming spirited challenges from younger opponents.
Action continues on Sunday, February 8, with intensity expected to rise as players battle for podium finishes and valuable qualification spots for the ITTF World Cup.
