Nigeria’s table tennis star Quadri Aruna has held on to his position as Africa’s number one player. Even after slipping three spots to 26th in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings released on Tuesday.
Aruna currently has 1,185 points, keeping him well ahead of his long-time rival, Omar Assar of Egypt, who sits in 33rd place with 930 points. This advantage comes despite Aruna’s early exit at the WTT Europe Smash in Sweden, where he lost to Assar in the round of 64. The ITTF’s ranking formula, however, rewards consistency and overall performance across a 12-month cycle, helping the Nigerian maintain his lead.
His position remains strong thanks to crucial results earlier this season. He secured 350 points after finishing runner-up at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis. Added 210 points from a semi-final run at the WTT Star Contender in Doha, and gained 175 points by reaching the round of 16 at the World Championships.
Nevertheless, with many of these results nearing expiration. Aruna faces mounting pressure to deliver in upcoming tournaments. His limited appearances in recent months mean every event will play a vital role in sustaining his place among the world’s elite.
Meanwhile, other Nigerian male players struggled in the new rankings. Matthew Kuti fell to 200th with 89 points, while Abdulbasit Abdulfatai dropped to 206th with 81 points.
Nigeria’s women also endured setbacks. Fatimo Bello stayed 122nd with 189 points, but Ajoke Ojomu slipped to 158th. Aminat Fashola dropped to 186th, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan fell to 211th. Only a handful of Nigeria’s female players ranked between fifth and tenth registered improvements.
Globally, China continues its dominance. Sun Yingsha extended her lead in the women’s rankings to a record 12,200 points. While on the men’s side, Lin Shidong and Wang Chuqin lead the pack, with Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano following closely.
