ITTF Rankings: Aruna Holds African Crown As Nigerians Slide Down

ITTF Rankings: Aruna Holds African Crown As Nigerians Slide Down

Sampson Adedeji

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna has maintained his status as Africa’s top-ranked table tennis player, even after dropping three places to 26th in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings released on Tuesday, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Aruna sits on 1,185 points, comfortably ahead of long-time Egyptian rival Omar Assar, who remains 33rd with 930 points.

The Nigerian ace’s consistency over the past year has kept him on top despite a round-of-64 exit to Assar at last week’s WTT Europe Smash in Sweden.

His ranking is buoyed by points earned from strong performances, including 350 from finishing runner-up at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis, 210 from reaching the WTT Star Contender semi-finals in Doha, and 175 from a last-16 finish at the ITTF World Championships earlier this year.

Elsewhere, Nigeria’s other leading men slipped further down the pecking order. Matthew Kuti fell four places to 200th with 89 points, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai dropped three spots to 206th on 81 points, while former African Games champion Olajide Omotayo slid six places to 212th.

Taiwo Mati also dropped to 221st. Muizz Adegoke was the lone bright spot, rising two places to 232nd. On the women’s side, Nigeria also endured a difficult update.

Fatimo Bello remains the country’s top female star at 122nd with 189 points, but Ajoke Ojomu slipped to 158th, Aminat Fashola to 186th, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan to 211th.

Only those ranked between fifth and tenth among Nigeria’s women’s players recorded upward movement.