Nigeria’s table tennis star Aruna Quadri fell short in his quest for a record-extending sixth ITTF Africa Cup title on Monday night, suffering a dramatic 4–3 semifinal defeat to Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa in Benghazi, Libya.
The five-time champion lost the pulsating contest (11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7) at the Al-Nasr Sports, Cultural, and Social Club, ending his bid to reclaim the continental crown.
A Classic Seven-Set Battle
Bouloussa raced into early control, claiming the opening two sets 11-9 and 11-6. Aruna responded with an 11-8 win in the third, but the Algerian edged ahead again by taking the fourth set 11-7.
Displaying trademark resilience, the Nigerian mounted a comeback, winning the fifth and sixth sets 11-8 and 11-8 to force a decider.
However, in the decisive seventh set, Bouloussa elevated his level, closing out the match 11-7 to seal one of the biggest victories of his career.
Dominant Run Before the Fall
Prior to the semifinal setback, Aruna had looked imperious:
Quarterfinal – vs Badr Mostafa (Egypt)
- 11-5
- 12-10
- 11-8
- 11-9
Round of 16 – vs Habeb Alajaebi (Libya)
- 11-3
- 11-4
- 11-3
- 11-1
Having already secured qualification for the 2026 ITTF World Cup in Macao, China, Aruna needed just two more wins to lift the trophy he last won in Kigali in 2024.
Bouloussa: “Aruna Is a Legend”
After the match, Bouloussa paid tribute to the Nigerian icon:
“It felt really good to win a match like this. Aruna is a legend of African table tennis. Playing against him is always tough, and this one demanded everything from me.”
“When you beat a player of Aruna’s calibre, it gives you confidence. Even though we both had already qualified for the World Cup, we wanted to test ourselves at the highest level.”
The victory saw Bouloussa become the first Algerian to reach the Africa Cup final.
Assar’s Continued Dominance
In the final, Egypt’s Omar Assar underlined his supremacy, defeating Bouloussa 4–0 (12–10, 11–8, 11–7, 11–7) to clinch his seventh Africa Cup title. Remarkably, Assar did not drop a single set throughout the tournament, further cementing his legacy as Africa’s most decorated male player in the event’s history.
Aruna’s Enduring Legacy
Though denied another crown, Aruna Quadri remains one of Africa’s greatest table tennis ambassadors. His Africa Cup triumphs came in:
- 2009 (Rabat)
- 2014 (Lagos)
- 2016 (Khartoum)
- 2017 (Agadir)
- 2024 (Kigali)
The Benghazi exit will sting, but his qualification for the 2026 World Cup ensures he will once again represent Nigeria and Africa on the global stage in Macao.
Women’s Final
In the women’s event, Egypt’s teenage star Hana Goda captured her fourth Africa Cup title with a commanding 4–0 victory over nine-time champion Dina Meshref
