The male and female teams of Nigeria and Egypt will face off in the team event at the ongoing ITTF Africa Championships in Mauritius following Tuesday’s round of matches.
Nigerian trio of Bode Abiodun, Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola strolled past their Algerian semi-final opponents recording a 3-0 win to progress to the finals of the competition.
Unlike Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola who found it quite easy dispatching their opponents in three straight sets (3-0), Bode Abiodun encountered a setback losing the second set 3-11 to Algeria’s Kherouf Sami after taking the first set 13-11. The Nigeria who plays his trade in Portugal however took charge of the game winning the third and fourth set 11-8, 11-5 respectively.
In the women’s category Funke Oshonaike, Edem Offiong, Oribamise Esther, Effiom Janet, Ojomu Ajoke and Funmi Ajala all combined well to secure a place in the finals despite playing four games on Tuesday – three group games against Seychelles, Algeria and Madagascar; and the semi-finals against South Africa.
The group games against Seychelles and Algeria were quite straightforward but against Madagascar, Funmi Ajala had to battle from two sets down against Rajaonah Rondro to win 3-2 and make it a hat trick of 3-0 wins on Tuesday in the group stage.
Funke Oshonaike, Edem Offiong and Effiom Janet made light work of their South African opponents defeating them 3-0 each without dropping a set.
This result means that Nigeria with the full compliment of her male and female star players, Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike will face the Dina Meshref and Mohammed El-Beiali led Egyptian side for a chance to emerge African Champions.
