Nigeria, April 17 -- Hopes were high for Africa's table tennis elite at the 2025 ITTF World Cup in Macao, China, but those dreams were dashed early as the continent's top contenders bowed out in the first round.

Nigeria's Quadri Aruna and Egypt's Dina Meshref, Omar Assar, and Hana Goda failed to make it past the group stage in a tournament showcasing the gap between Africa's best and the global powerhouses of the sport.

Though hard-fought and laced with moments of brilliance, the defeats highlight the work still needed for African players to consistently compete at the highest levels of international table tennis.

Omar Assar, Africa's reigning champion and one of Egypt's brightest table tennis exports, opened his campaign with high exp...