Egypt's defending champion Meshref picked up from where she left off yesterday at Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall as she raced to a 11-9, 11-2, 11-2, 11-8 victory over Nigerian Fatima Bello.

Compatriot and third seed Farah Abdel-Aziz was the day's biggest casualty as she bowed out of the medal fight, losing her round of 16 clash 4-3 against second seed Edem Offiong.

Nigeria's Offiong triumphed in a seven-set thriller to book a quarter-final spot and she reached the last four with another hard-fought win as she edged out compatriot Olufunke Oshonaike 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8.

Women's fourth seed Yousra Helmy of Egypt won her quarter-final 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 against Sarah Hanffou of Cameroon.

Completing the women's semi-finals line-up is 22nd seed Fadwa Garci of Tunisia, who defeated Nigerian Ajoke Ojuma 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 2-11, 11-8, 11-7.

Nigeria's Aruna remained on course for glory in the men's tournament as he booked a last four berth by defeating Ibrahima Diaw of Senegal.

Diaw pushed the men's top seed all the way but eventually succumbed in a 4-3 loss, Aruna clinching victory by winning the deciding set 12-10.

Egypt's defending champion Omar Assar awaits in the semi-finals, but he was also forced to dig deep against Nigerian Olajide Omotayo.

Assar, bidding for a third ITTF Africa Cup title, fought back to reach the last four with a 14-12, 6-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4 win.

Second seed Ahmed Saleh of Egypt overcame Nigerian Bode Abiodun 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 in the last eight.

He meets Sami Kherouf of Algeria in the semi-finals after he won 9-11, 11-4, 12-10 13-11, 13-15, 11-5 against Congo's Saheed Idowu.