Nigeria’s Aishat Rabiu narrowly missed out on a place in the U-15 Girls’ Singles final after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Tunisia’s Ela Saidi in the semi-finals of the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships in Accra, Ghana.
Sports247 reports that the Nigerian youngster’s impressive run came to an end against the in-form Tunisian, who delivered another composed performance to book her place in Monday’s championship final.
Rabiu had entered the semi-finals full of confidence after producing a convincing 3-1 victory over Algeria’s Sarri A. in the quarterfinals. The Nigerian displayed excellent technique and composure to overcome the Algerian and keep her title hopes alive.
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However, Ela Saidi, who had earlier defeated Egypt’s Daleela Mahgoub 3-1 in the quarterfinals, proved too strong in the last-four clash. The Tunisian controlled key moments of the match to claim a deserved 3-1 victory, ending Nigeria’s hopes of contesting for the U-15 girls’ singles crown.
Nigeria’s second representative in the quarterfinals, Aziza Sezuo, also bowed out after a spirited performance against Angola’s Patience Anyango. Sezuo fought back brilliantly but eventually lost a thrilling five-set contest 3-2, while Egypt’s Malak Zaki secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Tunisia’s Elee Abassi to complete the semi-final lineup.
In the second semi-final, Angola’s Patience Anyango produced one of the performances of the tournament, edging Egypt’s Malak Zaki 3-2 in a dramatic encounter to secure her place in the final.
The championship match will now see Tunisia’s Ela Saidi face Angola’s Patience Anyango, with both players chasing the U-15 Girls’ Singles title after outstanding campaigns in Accra.
Although Rabiu fell short of the final, her semi-final appearance ensures she finishes the competition with a bronze medal, marking another positive achievement for Team Nigeria at the continental championship. Her performances throughout the tournament further underline the country’s growing strength in youth table tennis and the emergence of another promising talent for the future.
After seven days of thrilling competition, attention now turns to Monday, July 27, when the U-15 and U-19 singles champions will be crowned at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, bringing the 2026 ITTF Africa Youth Championships to a fitting conclusion.
