Team Uganda has made an emphatic start to the 2025 Africa Hopes Week and Challenge in Lagos, Nigeria, with both the boys’ and girls’ categories producing flawless performances on day one of the tournament reserved for U-12 table tennis talent.
Leading the charge is world champion Joseph Sebatindira, who lived up to his top billing by winning all eight of his matches in commanding fashion.
From his opening sweep of Algerian Abdel Tazerout (11-6, 11-2, 11-8), Sebatindira set the tone for a near-perfect day, dropping just three games in total—including a thrilling five-set duel against Ghana’s Israel Aklie in the final round of the day.
Equally impressive in the girls’ division is defending champion Patience Anyango, who maintained a clean slate through six matches. Her campaign began with a convincing 3-0 victory over Tunisia’s Chebbi Ritej (11-3, 11-5, 11-7), and she only conceded a single game all day—in a 3-1 win over Egypt’s Goudy Sheba in round five.
The tournament, which features 17 boys and 13 girls from across the continent, is played in a round-robin format, with players aiming to earn seeding spots and qualification for the World Hopes Week and Challenge set for the United Kingdom later this year in October.
Today, the boys are expected to complete eight more matches while the girls play six, with consistency and endurance becoming as important as skill in determining who will emerge as Africa’s top U-12 talents.
Uganda’s remarkable performance in Lagos isn’t limited to just Sebatindira and Anyango. The larger contingent representing the country includes Sharif Nsereko, Ibrahim Mutesasira, Jemima Nakawala, Patra Nasirumbi, and Parvin Nangonzi, who will feature in upcoming age-category events including the U-15 and U-19 Africa Youth Championships, culminating in the prestigious Africa Youth Cup.
The team is under the guidance of national coaches Alvin Katumba and Tendo Balyewunya, who have expressed pride in the players’ discipline, focus, and high level of execution on the continental stage.
As the competition intensifies, Uganda’s early dominance is not only a statement of intent but a sign of the depth and promise in the country’s next generation of table tennis stars. If the momentum is sustained, Uganda could emerge from Lagos not just with qualification tickets to the global stage—but also with a reinforced reputation as one of Africa’s rising forces in youth table tennis.
