Aruna had suffered defeats to his Egyptian rival in the past two finals of the tournament.

The pair would meet at the semi-final stage of this year’s event at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Radès.

Aruna, the 2016 and 2017 champion, emerged as the winner of a dramatic seven-game contest.

The Nigerian player won the final two games of the contest to win 5-11, 6-11, 11-4, 14-12, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10.

He will face Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh in tomorrow’s final after he beat Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw 14-12, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Defending champion Dina Meshref progressed to the final of the women’s competition.

Meshref has won the past four editions of the women’s event and has earned the African continental title on seven occasions during her career.

The Egyptian star dropped her first game of the tournament in the quarter-finals, but overcame Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi 11-6, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-7.

She advanced to the final courtesy of an 11-6, 11-1, 11-13, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4 win over Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou.

Nigeria’s Offiong Edem ensured she would improve on her bronze medals from the past two events, winning the second semi-final.

Edem came from two games down to beat last year’s runner-up Yousra Helmy of Egypt 6-11, 14-16, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6.