Nigeria has secured the hosting rights for the 2028 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships after defeating Tunisia in a decisive vote at the African Table Tennis Federation’s Annual General Meeting in Tangier, Morocco. Nigeria received 23 votes against Tunisia’s 15 from 38 certified voters, earning the right to stage the continent’s premier table tennis championship in Lagos. According to Channels Television, the decision reflects confidence in Nigeria’s experience organising international table tennis competitions and its capacity to accommodate major sporting events. The victory also strengthens Nigeria’s position on the continental table tennis calendar, with the country set to welcome leading African players, coaches, officials and administrators for the 2028 tournament.
Nigeria Table Tennis Federation President Adesoji Tayo welcomed the decision, thanking delegates for their confidence and pledging to deliver a world-class championship. He confirmed that Lagos would host the event, describing it as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria to the wider African sporting community. The successful bid follows the federation’s recent involvement in organising international and continental competitions, while Nigeria last hosted the African Championships in 1992. The Annual General Meeting also allocated other upcoming tournaments, awarding Nigeria the 2027 African Para Table Tennis Championships, Libya the 2027 Africa Cup, Algeria the 2027 African Championships and Botswana the 2027 Youth Championships. For 2028, Rwanda will host the Youth Championships and Egypt the Para Championships, while the host of the Africa Cup remains undecided.
The double hosting responsibility gives Nigeria an opportunity to attract athletes, officials, visitors and commercial partners through two major continental table tennis events within consecutive years. Beyond the sporting competition, hosting can create opportunities for hospitality, tourism, transport, event production and local businesses, although the scale of these benefits will depend on preparation, investment and visitor participation. National Sports Commission Director General Bukola Olopade described the award as a milestone for Nigerian sport and said the country was working to strengthen its position as an international sports destination. With Lagos confirmed as the host city, attention will now turn to operational planning, venue readiness, logistics and partnerships needed to deliver the 2027 Para Championships and the 2028 Africa Championships successfully.
