Africa’s Rising Table Tennis Stars Head to Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

Fifteen of Africa’s most promising young table tennis players have secured places at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 in Senegal, the first Olympic event ever staged on African soil.The athletes are among 64 competitors selected for the table tennis event, which will run from the 31st of October to the 5th of November during the Games, taking place from the 31st of October to the 13th of November 2026. The selection marks a significant milestone for African table tennis, with players from across the continent set to compete on home soil.

Africa’s boys’ contingent is led by Algeria’s Aylan Goudjil, alongside Nigeria’s Matthew Kuti, Benin’s Ganiou Abdourahaman, Egypt’s Abdelmalk Elsayed, Senegal’s Amador Ferrer, Tunisia’s Youssef Aidli and Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindira. The girls’ event features Nigeria’s Favour Ojo, Algeria’s Tania Morice, Egypt’s Yara Elbadawy, Ghana’s Joanita Borteye, Madagascar’s Tina Andriantahina, Senegal’s Marieme Diallo, Tunisia’s Ela Saidi and Uganda’s Jemimah Nakawala.

The 15 African players represent eight countries, reflecting the breadth of talent emerging across the continent. Their selection for Dakar 2026 offers a chance to compete for medals and be part of a historic chapter in Olympic history on home soil.

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be the first Olympic sports event to take place on African soil, marking a significant moment for the continent’s sporting ambitions. The Games will feature athletes from around the world, including a first-ever Refugee Olympic Team composed of athletes selected from across Africa.

For Africa’s young table tennis players, Dakar 2026 offers an opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage and inspire the next generation of athletes. The challenge now is to convert this opportunity into strong performances and lasting progress for the sport across the continent.

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