Eight countries are taking part in the Africa Table Tennis tournament in which Cameroon is likely to excel, especially among the ladies.

In addition to Cameroon, the host country of the competition, Egypt; Nigeria, Congo, Algeria, Congo, Togo and Morocco are participating in the Africa Nations Table Tennis Cup which starts on Tuesday.

The Yaoundé multipurpose sports building hosting the table tennis players is ready for the first game this morning. "While it is an African Cup, this competition depends directly on the international federation of table tennis. Equipment to meet the standards worth $ 150,000 (equivalent to about 75 million FCfa) was made available for the competition to conform to international standards," said Alfred Bagueka, president of the Cameroon federation tennis table. The best of the African table tennis will compete for three days.

Egypt, whose delegation was led by the gentlemen; Lashin El-Sayed, the defending champion, and Omar Assar, African champion and Africa’s No. 1, promises to be the favourite of the competition.

It is the same for the women where Dina Meshref will stand in the way of title contenders. However, she will take on Nigeria's Quadri Aruna, former African champion, who will have the opportunity to take revenge on her Egyptian rivals.

Her compatriot Segun Toriola, considered one of the best table tennis players of all time, has withdrawn from the tournament in Yaoundé. Togolese Komi-Mawussi Agbetoglo, great hope of African Tennis, who according to observers is capable of contending with the Nigerian or Egyptian players, who dominate the discipline at the continental level. The Congolese delegation, returned from a training camp in China and led by Hang Seng, defending champion in the women's game.

On the side of Cameroon is Sara Nana Hanffou bringing hope to the podium in the women's game. The African champion in 2010, despite the time gap, has maintained the necessary wrist shot to make the difference. In the men category, it is mainly a question of gaining experience, given the rejuvenation of the players.

Clarence Dinyem, who won at the Cameroon championship in 8th finals of the recent World University Games, will be accompanied by Alain Jague, Alex Nikwango and Dereck Nyoh.

"It's an important competition that takes place within a month as part of the African Games which will result in a qualifier for the Olympics in terms of table tennis. This is the second time that Cameroon will organize an official competition of the Africa Table Tennis Federation after the African championship in 2010," says Alfred Bagueka.

The African Cup will immediately be followed by the African Clubs Championship where Cameroon has two teams.