Wassim Essid and Mariam Younes lived up to expectations on Friday at the 2025 ITTF Africa Youth Championships in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the eight-day tournament is taking place at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Both top seeds remain unbeaten in all their matches — team and singles — showing remarkable consistency and dominance on the continental stage.
Essid, Africa’s top-ranked male youth player and boys’ singles top seed, has not dropped a match since the tournament began.
In spite of Tunisia’s narrow 3-2 loss to Nigeria in the boys’ U-19 team final, the 17-year-old impressed with his aggressive, commanding playing style.
The defending boys’ U-19 singles champion had stated earlier that he came to Lagos with the goal of retaining his crown.
He has tackled each opponent with calculated focus, especially against tough Nigerian and Egyptian challengers to his title.
Likewise, Mariam Younes, top seed in the girls’ singles, has been a standout figure for the Egyptian team.
Now at the age limit, Younes is competing in her final youth tournament and led Egypt to a 3-0 win over Nigeria.
Her calm leadership on and off the table has inspired her teammates, and she is focused on defending her singles title.
NAN reports that with strong challengers across the continent, the coming days will test her ability to keep hold of the crown.
