Team Nigeria won their first gold medal at the 2023 ITTF African Senior Championships in Rades, Tunisia, through the duo of Fatimo Bello and Funke Oshonaike after they defeated Egyptian’s Sarah Hanffou and Marwa Alhodaby 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10) in the women’s doubles final on Saturday night.
Oshonaike and Bello earlier on Saturday defeated Mauritius duo, Oumehani Hosenally and Nandeshwaree Jalim 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-7), to set up a final against Egyptian duo, Sarah Hanffou and Marwa Alhodaby.
Egypt’s Sarah Hanffou and Marwa Alhodaby had earlier defeated Tunisia’s Abir Haj Salah and Fadwa Garci in the other semi-final encounter.
Meanwhile, Nigeria-born Congo representative Saheed Idowu has advanced to the semi-finals of a continental competition for the first time since 2018.
Idowu, in the earlier rounds, had beaten Mati Taiwo and Jonathan Native while Omar Assar unfortunately withdrew from the quarter-final match which ensured the Congolese qualification to the semi-finals of the men’s singles.
The championships began on September 11 and will run through September 17 at the Salle Omnisport de Rades.
Team Nigeria Wins First Gold Medal At ITTF African Senior Tourney
