Nigeria were able to clinch victory in a tightly fought men’s final at the Beau Bassin Sports Complex.

Aruna Quadri, Nigeria’s star player, gave his team the ideal start to the competition as he battled to a 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-2 win over Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh.

Arab Cup champion Mohammed El-Beiali got his team back level in the contest with a 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 success against Bode Abiodun.

Nigeria retook the lead when 44-year-old Segun Toriola delivered a 3-11, 1-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8 win over Ahmed Saleh.

It was left to El-Beiali to pull his team level again and he looked on course when he took a took a two games to one lead against Quadri.

Quadri would hit back to claim a thrilling 5-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5, 11-6 win.

The 3-1 success gave Nigeria their first African Table Tennis Championships title for 10 years, with Egypt having dominated recent editions.

Nigeria have now won the event on 11 occasions, with Egypt having claimed one more title with 12.

Togo beat Algeria 3-2 to secure the bronze medal.

While there was disappointment for Egypt in the men’s competition, they overcame Nigeria in the women’s event.

Dina Meshref led Egypt to their fourth consecutive title, as she first beat Offiong Edem 11-5, 4-11, 11-3, 11-4, before overcoming Olufunke Oshonaike 13-11, 11-8, 11-6.

Oshonaike had kept Nigeria in contention by winning 6-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11 against Farah Abdel-Aziz.

Victory for Egypt was sealed by Yousra Helmy, as she earned a 11-8, 4-11, 11-4, 11-9 win over Janet Effiom.

Algeria earned bronze by beating Angola 3-1.

Nigeria’s men’s team and Egypt’s women’s squad have both qualified for the 2019 Team World Cup to be staged in Tokyo.

The event in Japan’s capital city is billed as a test event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Individual competition will begin tomorrow.