Libya’s second-largest city, will host the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup, featuring top players from across the continent competing for qualification tickets to the 2026 ITTF World Cup in Macao, China.

The championship, which is happening for the first time in the history of table tennis, will hold from February 7 to 9 at the Al-Nasr Sports Club in Benghazi.

The tournament will bring together elite male and female players, with the stakes particularly high as semifinalists in both singles categories will automatically qualify for the World Cup scheduled for next month in Macao.

For the ITTF and its African counterpart, Libya’s hosting of the championship is more than a competition as it is a testament to the diversity of the sport and a celebration of unity and excellence across Africa.

President of ITTF Africa, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, commended the Libyan Table Tennis Federation (LTTF) for its commitment to hosting the event.

Mr Oshodi said Libya’s willingness to stage the championship reflected the growth and diversity of table tennis across the continent.

He said, “Gatherings such as this celebrate both our diversity and our unity, defining what it means to be part of the table tennis family.’’

Also speaking, President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Petra Sörling, said the Africa Cup had become a strong indicator of the continent’s growing influence in global table tennis.

She noted that sustained efforts in competition delivery, high-performance development and organisational capacity had strengthened Africa’s presence on the international stage.

“The ITTF Africa Cup reflects Africa’s rising influence within the international table tennis landscape,” Ms Sörling said.

She added that the 2025 edition of the tournament was significant as the sport approaches its centenary.

Mr Oshodi also described the competition as an important platform for players to enhance their preparations ahead of major global events, including the 2026 World Team Championships in London.

According to Ms Sörling, 2026 will mark 100 years since the founding of the ITTF and the staging of the first World Table Tennis Championships in 1926.

She said the centenary milestone belonged to the entire global table tennis community whose dedication had shaped the sport over the decades.

Looking ahead, Mr Sörling, an IOC executive member, said Africa’s role in the global sporting movement continued to expand, with major milestones ahead, including preparations for the first-ever Youth Olympic Games to be hosted on the continent.

She added that the ITTF Africa Cup symbolised Africa’s ambition and growing confidence in the global table tennis arena.

(NAN)