Oshonaike, Bello hit gold in ITTF Africa Championship
Nigerian pair secure nation's first gold medal at competition
Experienced player Funke Oshonaike partnered Fatimo Bello to claim the gold medal in the women’s doubles event at the 2023 ITTF Africa Championship. Their feat made them the first Nigerians to win a gold medal at the tournament this year.
The ITTF Africa Championship serves a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the Egyptians dominated all the events, carting away with multiple Olympic spots.
Seven-time Olympian and African legend Oshonaike came out of retirement to participate in the women’s doubles alongside Bello. The pair were up against Cameroonian player Sarah Hanffou and her teammate, Egypt’s Marwa Alhodaby, in the final. The event was not one with open qualification for the Olympics, and both teams only had the gold medal to play for.
Oshonaike and Bello claimed a win in five sets after a close contest, winning 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10). The duo won the gold medal in the event, Nigeria’s first of the championship.
