Oshodi moves to usher in new era for African table tennis

With the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup 2025 fast approaching, ITTF Africa President, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, has begun his term of office with a firm commitment to modernise competitions, promote youth development, and make the sport more attractive to players, clubs and fans, reports insidethegames.biz.

Oshodi, who sees the Africa Cup of Nations as his first major challenge is determined to implement a profound transformation that will raise the standard of the sport across the continent.

Since taking office in October 2024, Oshodi has made it clear that his priorities are to strengthen the competitions, professionalise the structure, and expand the global reach of African table tennis.

Now, with the tournament to be held in Tunisia, from 25-27 February, his vision is beginning to take shape. “This stage allows us to innovate and improve the event and make it more attractive for all stakeholders,” he said.

A key focus will be on youth development. The association aims to provide more opportunities for young talent through structured and accessible training programmes. A Level 3 coaching certification course, the highest in the sport, will be held ahead of the tournament. “It is vital that we have well-prepared coaches to develop our players,” said Oshodi.

But the changes will go beyond the sporting aspect. The Africa Cup will serve as the first testing ground for a new approach aimed at improving the experience for both players and fans. With a prize fund of $25,000 (€23,817), the tournament will introduce a “gold badge referee” to mentor young referees and raise the standard of officiating.

Oshodi is also focused on increasing the media impact of the event said: “We want to make the event more attractive not only to table tennis fans, but also to a wider audience,” he stressed. To achieve this, digital and television coverage will be increased to give the sport greater exposure and attract potential sponsors.

One of the biggest challenges for the federation has been the high cost of travel and logistics, which has limited participation from many countries. To address this, the ATTF has secured a partnership with Ethiopian Airlines as its official travel partner. “We hope that this arrangement will benefit both the Africa Cup and the African Youth Championship in Lagos,” said the African leader.

Beyond the individual tournaments, the confederation is also looking to revive the African Club Championship, which has seen a decline in participation in recent years. “We are working with member associations to increase the number of teams and after this edition, we will conduct a comprehensive review to determine the best direction for the championship,” Oshodi revealed.

Among the planned reforms is the introduction of a ranking system to raise the prestige of the competition, and to encourage clubs to make long-term investments. Efforts will also be made to increase media exposure and sponsorship opportunities to make the tournament more attractive.

Through these initiatives, Oshodi aims to establish African table tennis as a more prominent force on the international stage. His strategy is based on three key pillars: youth development, strengthening competitions, and increasing global visibility. “The road is long, but we are confident that these changes will make a difference,” he concluded.