ITTF Africa Cup — is an annual table tennis competition held in Africa since 1991. Its program includes tournaments for men and women in singles. Sixteen (16) players from both men and women qualify for the Asian Cup. Since 2016, the tournament has been recognized as a qualifying competition for
Table Tennis World Cup.
The competitions are organised by the relevant Table Tennis Federation in accordance with the powers granted
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) &
African Table Tennis Federation.
History
In the era when gender equality had not yet taken root seriously, the competitions were held only among men in singles – there was no women's singles tournament, but this is not a reproach to the African Table Tennis Federation.
This approach was in line with general practice: the World Cup was first held in 1980 in Hong Kong, then it was held annually and only in 1996 did it change its name to the Men's World Cup, when a similar tournament for women was organized for the first time. As with men, the debut tournament was held in Hong Kong.
It is noteworthy that in 1997, when the second Africa Cup was held in the South African city of Port Elizabeth, a women's tournament was also held. Its winner was Egyptian Shaimaa Abdul-Aziz, and the champion among men was a promising 17-year-old player from Egypt Ahmed Ali Saleh, who replaced the Nigerian Sule Olalaye, who won in Kinshasa a year earlier, on the throne.
From 2013 to 2020, the tournament was recognized as a qualifying competition for
Table Tennis World Cup, in 2024 it was continued.
Until 2013, the tournament used a tournament game system with a final stage for 4 participants with a round-robin system of drawing. After 2013, the second stage was played according to the playoff system. and sometimes the match for third place was held, and sometimes not.
In 2021, the tournament was not held due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Among men, the record holder for the number of victories is Egyptian Omar Assar - 6 titles, and among women - Egyptian Dina Meshref, who has nine victories.
Tournament Qualification
Each African association may enter two players per category, except for the host, which may enter four players per category.
plus the winners of the ITTF-Africa Senior Cup in the previous tournament.
Playing System
This competition is held in 2 stages.
Group Stage: 8 groups will be formed, and a round robin system will be played in each group.
Playoff Stage: Based on the results of the group stage, 16 playoff participants will be determined (2 winners and runners-up from each group) and they will determine the sole winner with a draw for all places. The matches for 3rd place were not played.
