Comprising regional champions and top ranked players from throughout the continent, notable absentees are Nigerian veterans, Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike, former winners and African representatives at the World Cup events.

In the men’s seeding, Egypt’s Omar Assar is the no.4 seed behind colleague Ahmed Ali Saleh of Egypt and Olajide Omotayo, like Quadri Aruna from Nigeria. A potential semi-final meeting between Quadri Aruna and Omar Assar is a distinct possibility, a situation that occurred at the 2019 ITTF Africa Cup in Lagos, the Egyptian claiming a six games success and progressing to win the event.

Notably, both men’s and women’s events will be played in an initial phase of four groups, four players in each group, best of five games. Players finishing in first and second positions advance to the main draw when matches become best of seven games.

The draw will take place according to the latest African seeding with the top four seeded players being drawn in separate groups. All remaining players will be drawn accordingly to a modified snake system.

There will be separation by association in the first phase.