At the centre of this shift is Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation and Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Calm yet purposeful, he has become the driving force behind Africa’s push to close the long-standing gap with the sport’s traditional powerhouses in Europe and Asia.
From humble grassroots beginnings to the intensity of elite international competition, the quintessential sports administrator believes the foundations are finally being laid for something historic.
Nevertheless, he remains firmly grounded in reality, fully aware that limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, and the ongoing need for sustained investment continue to pose serious challenges that could slow the continent’s progress.
In this exclusive interview with Flashscore.com, Oshodi speaks candidly about Africa’s progress since succeeding Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy in October 2024, and why he believes the continent could produce a world champion within the next five years.
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the remarkable work being done in advancing table tennis across Africa. As the sport continues to grow under your leadership, how do you reflect on the journey and the progress achieved so far?
"The growth of table tennis in Africa can be attributed to the commitment of the 54 Member Associations across the continent and the determination of the new ATTF Executive Committee that Africa must catch up with Europe and Asia.
"The sport is fast gaining significant attention, due to the impressive performances of some of our senior players in the World Table Tennis (WTT) events and World Cups.
"Our young players are also coming through on the world stage. It is the deliberate effort of the Executive Committee, working in tandem with the ITTF and some of our Member Associations, that has ensured table tennis receives the recognition it deserves. While progress has been made, there is still a lot of room for further development."
You have earned considerable praise for your work. How do you handle the growing expectations that come with this responsibility?
"The progress we are making is because of the collective support from players, coaches, fans, and especially the media. I recognise the expectations and we must continue to strive to meet them, but we remain committed to raising the profile of the sport through meaningful short and long-term initiatives that will enhance its future and create a sustainable sport. "
What have been your key strategies in expanding the reach and development of table tennis across Africa?
"To grow any sport, the focus must be on youth development. Africa’s large youth population is an advantage, and we continue to find ways to raise the necessary funds to invest in them, hoping more talents will emerge like Hana Goda, Matthew Kuti, Wassim Essid, Joseph (Sebatindira) and many more youngsters now playing across all our regions. We need to find ways to bring equipment and accessories to our associations.
"The major problem we are working to overcome is the lack of funding across many countries. We must seek new pathways to obtain the required funding. Sadly, this takes time but we are working hard to fast track some of our ideas."
How challenging has it been to secure adequate funding for the sport?
"Funding remains the major challenge. While ITTF is our primary sponsor and they are helping, we are working to make the sport more attractive to potential partners on the continent. We have secured a few partners, such as Ethiopian Airlines, who are of great help in reducing the cost of travel for our Member Associations.
"Value Jet helps cover the cost of travel for ATTF staff, and of course STAG are our equipment partners. These are valuable assets. We are in discussion with other corporates and we are quite optimistic that in the next year, more sponsors will join us in supporting table tennis in Africa. This increasing our independence to fund our own ideas and goals."
Aside from funding, what other key challenges have you faced in your role as president?
"Infrastructure is another significant concern. We are deliberately working to address both funding and infrastructure challenges so that table tennis can rival other major sports in Africa. Like I mentioned earlier the cost and availability of equipment is a challenge but we continue to discuss with the ITTF and manufacturers on how we can bridge the deficit on the continent."
To what extent does the gap between Africa and the world’s leading table tennis nations still exist?
"Over the past decade, African players have narrowed the gap, with stars like Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar, and Dina Meshref proving their ability to compete at the highest level. Recently, Egyptian teenager Hana Goda made history at the ITTF World Cup in Macao by becoming the first African female and only the second African overall to reach the quarterfinals and just narrowly losing out in the quarterfinals against the World No. 1.
"Achievements like this inspire more players to aim even higher. The gap has narrowed dramatically and, on their day, we have players from Africa who can take on and beat the best players in the world. What we are now aiming for is how we can help support them to do this consistently."
Leading a continental federation comes with immense pressure. What continues to motivate you in this role?
"I am motivated by the strong support from the Member Associations and the performances of our players globally. I am self-driven, and the success of our athletes only pushes us to work harder. Our top athletes are so gifted and talented and we must develop ways to bring out the best in them while ensuring that we do not leave others behind.
"We must create the conditions to ensure that table tennis thrives across the continent both as a commercially viable sport as well as being the number one recreational sport."
Looking ahead, where do you see African table tennis in the next five years?
"Given the sport’s growing profile and the achievements of African players internationally, I see table tennis becoming closer to football and athletics in Africa. That has to be our goal. With the help of the media, we are on track to achieve this."
Based on the talent you have observed, do you believe Africa can produce a world champion in the near future?
"I definitely believe so. Nothing is impossible in table tennis. Who would have imagined a Brazilian winning the ITTF World Cup, as Hugo Calderano did in 2025? You also have to remember that players like Aruna and Omar have competed favourably with the best in the world.
"With more non-Asian players now in the world’s top 10, Africa is getting closer. We will continue to motivate our players with the hope that they too can reach the very top. I firmly believe in the possibility of an African (male or female) world champion in the next five years."
Lastly, what is your reaction to table tennis being excluded from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games?
"For the first time, table tennis has been excluded from the Games. Since it is an abridged edition with reduced number of sports that is understandable to some extent. However, we are very happy that it will return in 2030 when India now a major table tennis force will host the Games. Furthermore, table tennis has now been granted core sport status.
"The ITTF President Petra Sorling, myself and a few others worked hard to convince the Commonwealth Games Federation of the importance of table tennis to the Games. We have now obtained that commitment from the Commonwealth Games Federation. The future of table tennis in the Commonwealth Games for the foreseeable future is now secure.
With the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London now in sight, it is fair to say that Oshodi’s reflections carry a calm certainty, one that suggests Africa’s journey is no longer merely about catching up, but about confidently stepping into its rightful place on the global stage."
