Monday, August 04, 2025 – The echoes of ping pong balls and the cheers of youthful champions still ring out from Lagos, Nigeria, where the Africa Youth Table Tennis Championships concluded on Sunday, August 3rd. The Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall inside Teslim Balogun Stadium was abuzz with talent, but when the final volleys were played, it was clear that Egypt and Algeria were the teams to beat.
The two nations carved up the gold medals like seasoned pros, taking home eight of the ten available. Egypt, with its well-drilled team, managed to snag five titles, while Algeria proved they’re a force to be reckoned with, claiming three. Tunisia and the host nation, Nigeria, each managed to snag a gold of their own, ensuring a diverse podium.
For Egypt, the star of the show was undoubtedly **Mariam Younes**. *[Photo Credit: ITTF Africa on (X)]* The young woman, a familiar name in youth table tennis, finished her junior career in style, dominating the U-19 girls’ singles competition. Facing off against fellow Egyptian, Habiba Elbasoumy, in the final, Younes showed the world what she was made of. With a commanding 4-1 victory, she secured her second consecutive continental title, a fitting end to a dazzling youth career. Watching Younes play was to witness pure elegance, control, and unwavering focus – a champion through and through.
But Younes wasn’t done. Teaming up with Badr Mostafa, she secured a gold in the U-19 mixed doubles, crushing the competition with a 3-0 win over Yassin Gaber and Nour Zaki.
If Younes was all about grace, Badr Mostafa was pure fire. The left-hander delivered a stunning upset in the U-19 boys’ singles final, defeating defending champion Wassim Essid of Tunisia with a 4-1 score. After clinching the win, he leapt onto the table in a display of raw emotion, perfectly capturing the passion and thrill of youth table tennis.
While Egypt was the dominant force, Algeria sent a strong message, especially in the U-15 category. The Morice sisters, Jade and Tania, put on a clinic in the U-15 girls’ doubles, easily securing a 3-0 win over Egypt’s Farida Thabet and Hanin Elewa. Then, Tania completed the family double, beating her sister 3-0 in the singles final.
Algeria’s Bilel Zouitene also shone, redeeming a loss in the U-15 boys’ doubles final. He showed serious grit and nerve, taking home the gold in a nail-biting 3-2 singles final victory against Asser Sameh of Egypt.
Tunisia’s lone gold came in the U-15 mixed doubles, where Amir Essid and Ela Saidi showed impressive teamwork and tactical prowess.
For the Nigerian team, the championship offered a mixed bag of results, but local fans had plenty to cheer about, thanks to Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai. The pair pulled off a stunning upset, defeating Tunisia’s Wassim Essid and Mohamed Khaloufi 3-1 in the U-19 boys’ doubles final.
**Egypt’s Gold Medal Haul:**
* U-19 Girls’ Singles – Mariam Younes
* U-19 Boys’ Singles – Badr Mostafa
* U-19 Mixed Doubles – Badr Mostafa/Mariam Younes
* U-19 Girls’ Doubles – Malak Abdelshakour/Nour Zaki
* U-15 Boys’ Doubles – Asser Sameh/Mohammed Abdelhalim
As the echoes of the championships begin to fade, one thing is clear: the future of table tennis in Africa is bright, with young talent poised to make a big impact on the global stage.
