March 4, 2024: Big wigs in African table tennis – Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar, Dina Meshref, Hana Goda all sailed through to the quarterfinal stage of the singles event of the 13th African Games taking place in Accra, Ghana.

Aruna, a two-time silver medalist had to work hard to defeat Algeria’s Stephane Quaiche 3-1 in an explosive match on the centre table.

2015 champion Assar of Egypt wasted no time in dismissing Algeria’s Sami Kherouf 3-0.

Also, men’s singles defending champion Olajide Omotayo of Nigeria was ahead of Tunisia’s Kalil Sta with a commanding 3-0 win.

Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu ended the dream of Tunisian teenage sensation Wassim Essid with a 3-0 win while Egypt’s Mohammed El-Beiali also Algeria’s Maheidine Bella 3-0 to hit the last eight.

Khaled Assar of Egypt also joined the league of top players in the last eight with a dominating 3-0 win Tunisia’s Youssed Ben Attia, while Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw edged out bespectacled Mohammed Shouman 3-1 to qualify for the last eight of the men’s singles.

The women’s singles quarterfinal was dominated by Egypt as Meshref, Yousra Helmy, Hana Goda and Mariam Alhodaby picked their places in the last eight.

Nigeria’s only surviving player Offiong Edem beat Mariam Alhodaby 3-0 while Esther Oribamise fell 3-1 to Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou.

Algeria’s Lucie Mobarek and Lynda Loghraibi also sailed through to the quarterfinal.