BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Ghana’s young table tennis star, Israel Aklie, has made history by defeating the current ITTF World number one in the Under-11 category, Joseph Sebatindira of Uganda, in a thrilling five-set match at the African Youth Championships in Nigeria.
Aklie’s victory has secured Ghana’s place in the quarter-finals of the Under-15 Boys Teams Event.
Background
The match between Aklie and Sebatindira was highly anticipated, given their previous encounters.
In 2024, Aklie stunned the table tennis world by defeating Sebatindira 3-0 to claim gold at the inaugural ITTF African Hopes Programme in Botswana.
However, Sebatindira edged Aklie 3-2 in a tense match at the 2025 ITTF African Hopes Programme in Lagos, bringing their head-to-head record to 1-1.
Match Highlights
The latest encounter between Aklie and Sebatindira was marked by high tension, tactical brilliance, and exceptional skill.
Aklie demonstrated maturity beyond his years, winning the match 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8). The match was a showcase of talent, resilience, and rising rivalry between the two young athletes.
Ghana’s Progress
Aklie’s victory led Ghana to a 3-1 victory over Uganda, securing their place in the quarter-finals. Ghana will face Cameroon in the quarter-finals for a spot in the medal rounds.
Both Aklie and Sebatindira have secured their places to represent Africa at the prestigious 2025 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge in Sheffield, UK.
Future Prospects
Aklie’s dramatic win cements his status as one of Africa’s brightest young talents and signals an exciting future for African table tennis.
The rivalry between Aklie and Sebatindira is expected to continue to push both players toward greatness.
