Africa can produce world table tennis champion – Oshodi

President of the African Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi, is confident the continent can produce a world champion within the next five years, as African players continue to close the gap on the sport’s leading nations, PidomNigeria Sports Extra reports.

Oshodi, a former Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development in Lagos State, was unanimously elected ATTF president at the body’s 2024 Annual General Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He succeeded Khaled El-Salhy, who had led the federation since 2010. He is also the Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation.

Almost two years into his reign, Oshodi has continued to scale up Africa’s table tennis landscape despite challenges and he believes that the continent’s stars can claim the biggest title in the world.

“Nothing is impossible in table tennis. Who would have imagined a Brazilian winning the ITTF World Cup, as Hugo Calderano did in 2025? You also have to remember that players like Quadri Aruna and Omar Assar have competed favourably with the best in the world,” Oshodi told Flashscore.com.

“With more non-Asian players now in the world’s top 10, Africa is getting closer. We will continue to motivate our players with the hope that they too can reach the very top. I firmly believe in the possibility of an African (male or female) world champion in the next five years.”

On the extent of the gap, Oshodi said players like Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar and Dina Meshref have paved the way for younger talents to keep excelling and competing at the highest level.

“Over the past decade, African players have narrowed the gap, with stars like Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar and Dina Meshref proving their ability to compete at the highest level. Recently, Egyptian teenager Hana Goda made history at the ITTF World Cup in Macao by becoming the first African female and only the second African overall to reach the quarter-finals, narrowly losing at that stage to the world No. 1.”

To sustain this growth, Oshodi said the ATTF is prioritising youth development, with Africa’s large young population offering a significant advantage.

He added that efforts are ongoing to secure funding to nurture emerging talents such as Hana Goda, Matthew Kuti, Wassim Essid and Joseph Sebatindira, while also improving access to equipment and accessories for associations across the continent.