Nigeria, Aug. 18 -- Egypt's Omar Assar once again got the better of Nigeria's Quadri Aruna, claiming a 3-1 victory in the first round of the men's singles at the Europe Smash - Sweden 2025 on Sunday at the Malmo Arena.

It was another fiery chapter in Africa's longest-running table tennis rivalry, one that has shaped the continent's international profile over the past decade.

The contest, always circled on the calendar by fans of African table tennis, did not disappoint in intensity. Assar took a tense opening game 12-10, before Aruna stormed back with a blistering 11-4 response in the second.

Just when momentum seemed to tilt towards the Nigerian, Assar flipped the script, overwhelming his rival 11-3 in the third game and holding his n...