Accra, Ghana – Seventeen-year-old Naomi Coker has etched her name into Sierra Leone’s sporting history after becoming the country’s first-ever medal winner at the ITTF Africa Youth Cup, following a remarkable run to the semi-finals of the 2026 tournament at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra.
Competing in her debut appearance for Sierra Leone at the continental youth event, Coker guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal after defeating Uganda’s Judith Nangonzi 4-2 in the U-19 Girls’ Singles quarter-finals.
Her impressive campaign eventually came to an end in the semi-finals, where she lost to Algeria’s Jade Morice, settling for a historic bronze medal that marks a significant milestone for Sierra Leonean table tennis.
The achievement is even more remarkable considering it came in Coker’s first continental youth championship representing Sierra Leone. Officials are still conducting fact checks, but the bronze medal is widely regarded as the nation’s first podium finish at the ITTF Africa Youth Cup.
Before switching allegiance to Sierra Leone, Coker developed through England’s highly competitive youth table tennis system, where she established herself as one of the country’s brightest prospects.
In 2023, she captured both the England Cadet National Singles and Cadet National Doubles titles, underlining her exceptional talent. That same year, she earned selection to England’s squad for the European Youth Championships, reflecting her rapid rise through the sport’s elite youth ranks.
Her success in Accra signals a bright future for Sierra Leone on the continental stage, with the young star already proving she has the quality to compete against Africa’s best.
Coker’s breakthrough performance is expected to inspire a new generation of table tennis players in Sierra Leone while highlighting the growing competitiveness of emerging nations in African table tennis.