• Tweeter

  • republish

Table tennis is present at the African Games in Morocco. Photo: Farid Achache RFI

Major sport on the Asian continent, table tennis is struggling to find a place at the world level for the African continent. Only athletes from Nigeria and Egypt arrive as best they can to win. Each year, the International Table Tennis Federation funds development programs in Africa.

From our special envoy to Morocco,

In one of the rooms of the FUS sports complex in Rabat, the gestures are repeated to infinity. The meetings are linked, the bullets fuse, and the sound of shoes slipping on the ground makes us forget for a time that the discipline is dominated by Asia. If table tennis also has a place in the African Games , the continent is struggling to be represented at the highest level.

The Nigerian Quadri Aruna, the gondola head

" In Africa, there is a huge potential ," said Mounir Bessah, a member of the International Table Tennis Federation, who came to oversee the smooth running of the tournament. At the last World Under-12 Championships in Oman, an Egyptian and a Nigerian won. At senior level, it's something else.

In Rio in 2016, only Nigerian Quadri Aruna reached the quarterfinals in singles, and was beaten by Ma Long, the future winner of the event. He became the first African table tennis player to reach this level of competition at the Olympic Games. Quadri Aruna, currently ranked 22nd in the world, was voted Athlete of the Year two years in a row in Nigeria. " Table tennis is very developed in Nigeria with 500,000 practitioners and also in Egypt, " says Mounir Bessah.

In 2018, the ITTF spent about 700,000 euros on a development plan for the African continent. " For 2019, we funded 48 projects. We are changing our sport by installing regional officials funded by our means to professionalize our sport, "says Mounir Bessah. He adds: " In Central Africa, South Africa or Botswana, we can change the discipline. As for sub-Saharan Africa, we need to help it set up efficient federations like in North Africa . "

Protect young talents under 21

To prevent table tennis becoming a purely Asian discipline, the ITTF leaders had hit hard in 2008. From now on, a table tennis player over 21 will not be able to change his nationality after having already played for the national team. from his country of origin.

And to protect young talent under the age of 21, the ITTF has put in place long waiting periods to reduce the number of nationality changes.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games table tennis, China won all gold, silver and bronze medals, both in individual and team tournaments, for both men and women. . Same thing in 2012 in London.

To re-read ► African Games / Fencing: Inès Boubakri, gold woman

The fight of Sarah Hanffou ...

" In China, from the age of 4 or 5, children are already training for several hours a day, " says Franco-Cameroonian Sarah Hanffou about this " complete " sport where the mind plays a lot.

The one who has been in France team until the age of 21 knows that the gap is huge between the majority of African countries and the rest of the world. " What seems obvious to us in France is not at all in Cameroon. Even having a specific room, tables and rackets to play, "argues Sarah Hanffou.

According to her, if the International Federation does a lot, it can not go against the political choices made by the States . " We have wood in Africa and we could build craft tables very easily. But it takes willpower. Most Nigerians learn on concrete tables in the street, "points out Sarah Hanffou.

" Without outside help, it's complicated "

For her part, this lawyer created an association to collect material and send it to the continent. For about fifteen years, Sarah Hanffou has been trying to develop table tennis in Africa with training courses and introductory courses for all audiences.

Another example: it is with the help of his uncle who lives in France that the young Togolese Desire Akakpo, number one at the junior level in his country, continues to practice his passion. " He pushed me to play table tennis. I saw him play and I liked it. And it is thanks to him that I have material. Without outside help, it's complicated, "concludes the young boy from Lome.

Beside, a Nigerian ends her warm up by bungee jumping before entering the track. A young South African listens to music to kill the time that separates him from his competition. The day of African table tennis players is in full swing.

To read again ► African Games: More gold for Marie-Josée Ta Lou