Spin, Spats, and Smashes: Egypt's Table Tennis Drama Unfolds in Tunisia

In Tunisia: Africa Championship Sparks a Clash

The Egyptian table tennis delegation at the Africa Championship in Tunisia faced a sharp crisis after a scuffle between Omar Eser and his teammate Mahmoud Ashraf Helmy, the son of the federation president.

Egypt's participation was rocked by a controversial incident when Omar Eser clashed with Mahmoud Ashraf Helmy.

Omar Eser was shaking hands with teammates before one of his matches when Mahmoud Ashraf refused to shake hands, igniting Eser's anger before the match; the coaching staff tried to calm things.

The match started, but Eser would not play unless his teammate was removed from the bench.

The coaching staff attempted to de-escalate the situation, but Eser stood firm, requesting a timeout to contain the dispute; he spoke with the delegation head, urged a resolution, and directed abusive words at the teammate who charged toward him, yet those present managed to contain the moment.

There was no statement from the Egyptian Federation about the incident, but sources told KOOORA that the federation president would intervene to reconcile between his son and Omar Eser and to end this feud.

Triumphs on the Court

The Egyptian table tennis delegation continued its continental rise after delivering a standout performance at the 2025 Africa Table Tennis Championship hosted by Tunisia, facing the continent’s top teams and reaffirming Egypt's leadership while securing qualification to the 2026 World Team Championship.

The championship featured intense competitions across the men's and women's divisions, teams, singles, and doubles, yet the Egyptian team dominated most events thanks to the high level and experience of its players in continental and international events.

Star Omar Eser led Egypt to a new milestone by winning the men’s singles title, showing continental mastery; he delivered a strong run throughout the event and sealed the final against his teammate Youssef Abdel Aziz to add another gold to his storied career.

Eser is one of the top table tennis players in the history of Egypt and Africa, having previously achieved notable results at the Tokyo Olympics and world championships, and he continues to strengthen his status as a global star.

In the women’s category, the young Hana Gouda continued her impressive form, clinching the women’s singles title and proving she is the rightful heir to a generation of champions who lifted Egypt onto the continental map.

Hana produced a superb showing across the tournament, displaying technical maturity beyond her years and overcoming players from Tunisia, Nigeria, and Cameroon on her path to gold, giving Egypt another gold.

Egypt's excellence extended beyond singles to the team events, where a strong collective effort helped the nation secure a place at the 2026 World Team Championship after triumphing over rivals in the knockout rounds.

ATTF General Assembly: Tension Off the Table

Meanwhile, during the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) annual general meeting in Tunisia, a sharp crisis emerged as Nigerian Wahid Ashudi, the federation president, avoided clear decisions on key requests raised by member federations present at the annual gathering.

Members criticized the failure to involve them in joint deliberations to nominate African candidates for the ITTF Executive Board after Wahid Ashudi’s nomination from Nigeria, alongside Lotfi Qarfal of Tunisia and Alaa Moshref of Egypt for North Africa.

Some members condemned both Wahid and Mushref, who sit on the ITTF Executive Board, for voting on major and controversial issues without consulting the African federations that form the regional bloc.

No comment has been issued by the federation about the matter, and the discussion continues to cast a shadow over the federation’s leadership and its credibility at the continental level.

Punchline 1: If diplomacy were a serve, this federation would be a never-ending rally—spin the ball, spin the story, spin the excuses.

Punchline 2: In table tennis, as in politics, the ball always spins back—sometimes with more spin than a politician's promise.