Tangier Hosts the General Assembly of the African Table Tennis Union

The city of Tangier hosted the General Assembly of the African Table Tennis Union, organized alongside the African Championships taking place in the city of the Strait. This gathering brought together over 70 participants, including several prominent figures from the international sports world, such as Petra Sörling, President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and Nawal El Moutawakel, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The General Assembly of the African Table Tennis Union in Tangier provided a unique opportunity to assess the state of the sport on the continent, explore the challenges hindering its development, and discuss various organizational proposals, including amendments to the statutes of the continental body. Participants also delved into the action plan and the upcoming African competitions scheduled for 2027.

Anas Ziyati, President of the Royal Moroccan Table Tennis Federation (FRMTT), emphasized that hosting this event in Morocco underscores the growing significance of national table tennis on the continental stage. He also highlighted the importance of involving African and international sports figures in discussions about the future of the sport.

According to the FRMTT President, the proceedings of the General Assembly took place in an atmosphere of transparency and democracy, encouraging constructive exchanges on several organizational issues. He noted that the Royal Moroccan Table Tennis Federation had proposed various measures aimed at enhancing the functioning of the African Union and revising certain provisions of its statutes.

Meanwhile, Nawal El Moutawakel stressed the need to boost participation among youth and women in sports, combat harassment in the sports environment, and improve funding mechanisms as well as access to infrastructure. She argued that the development of table tennis requires modernizing governance practices and implementing initiatives that would restore the sport to its rightful place.

The IOC Vice President also praised the dynamism of the Royal Moroccan Table Tennis Federation in recent times, commending the efforts of a young and energetic team to promote the sport and enhance its visibility.

For her part, Petra Sörling, President of the ITTF, expressed her satisfaction with the progress table tennis has made in Africa. She particularly noted the emergence of promising young talents and the rising level of competitiveness during the continental championships.

The international official also applauded the quality of organization and Moroccan hospitality, stating that this gathering reflects the shared commitment among various stakeholders to continue their efforts towards developing African table tennis.

According to statements from the officials present, discussions notably focused on the challenges faced by national federations, ways to improve their governance, and means to promote participation in the sport. The necessity of translating formulated proposals into concrete measures during the next phase was also emphasized.

Additionally, this General Assembly facilitated a review of activities from the past year, examined the 2026 program, and outlined the major directions for the 2027 agenda, particularly concerning upcoming African competitions. The aim is to strengthen coordination among national federations and create new opportunities for developing table tennis across the continent.

The holding of this General Assembly in Tangier, alongside the African Table Tennis Championships, aligns with the momentum this sport is experiencing in Morocco. It also fortifies the Kingdom’s presence in continental and international discussions focused on the future of this sport.

Through these meetings, stakeholders in African table tennis aim to broaden the base of participants, nurture the emergence of young talents, enhance the conditions for training and competition, and strengthen cooperation among national federations.

These priorities should help elevate the standard of African table tennis and strengthen its presence at upcoming international sporting events.