Younes Retains Title As Mostafa Dethrones Essid In Lagos

Egypt’s Mariam Younes successfully defended her U-19 girls’ singles crown, while compatriot Badr Mostafa dethroned Tunisia’s Wassim Essid to claim the U-19 boys’ singles title at the 2025 ITTF Africa Youth Championships, which concluded on Sunday, August 3, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Out of the 10 gold medals contested in singles and doubles events, Egypt and Algeria emerged as dominant forces.

Egypt secured five gold medals, Algeria claimed three, while Tunisia and Nigeria earned one gold medal each.

Younes, competing in her final youth tournament, defeated fellow Egyptian Habiba Elbasoumy 4-1 to clinch back-to-back continental titles in the U-19 girls’ singles. In the boys’ category, left-handed Mostafa overpowered defending champion Essid 4-1, celebrating his triumph by leaping onto the table after sealing the final point.

Tunisia’s only gold came in the U-15 mixed doubles, where Amir Essid and Ela Saidi overcame Nigeria’s Tobi Adebakin and Aishat Rabiu 3-1. Nigeria’s sole gold medal was won by Matthew Kuti and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, who defeated Tunisia’s Wassim Essid and Mohamed Khaloufi 3-1 in the U-19 boys’ doubles final.

In the U-15 boys’ doubles, Egypt’s Asser Sameh and Mohammed Abdelhalim triumphed over Algeria’s Aylan Goudjil and Bilel Zouitene 3-1. However, Zouitene avenged the loss in the singles event, edging Sameh 3-2 to win the U-15 boys’ singles title.

Algerian siblings Jade and Tania Morice claimed the U-15 girls’ doubles title with a commanding 3-0 win over Egypt’s Farida Thabet and Hanin Elewa. Tania went on to defeat Jade 3-0 in the U-15 girls’ singles final, adding another gold to her haul.

Egypt’s Malak Abdelshakour and Nour Zaki captured the U-19 girls’ doubles title, beating Uganda’s Jemimah Nakawala and Judith Nangonzi 3-0. In mixed doubles, Egypt’s Badr Mostafa and Mariam Younes teamed up to defeat compatriots Yassin Gaber and Nour Zaki 3-0 in the final.