Mati Returns as Aruna Headlines Nigeria’s Squad For ITTF African Championships

Mati Returns as Aruna Headlines Nigeria’s Squad For ITTF African Championships

Sampson Adedeji

France-based table tennis star Taiwo Mati has earned a recall to Nigeria’s national team ahead of the 2025 ITTF African Championships in Tunisia, where he will join leading player Quadri Aruna and eight others, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The continental tournament will take place in Tunis from October 12 to 19. Mati last represented Nigeria at the 2023 ITTF World Championships in Durban, South Africa.

Despite his outstanding display there, the talented left-hander has been absent from the national setup for the past two years.

For this year’s event, Mati will team up with a strong men’s lineup that includes Africa’s top-ranked player Aruna, 2019 African Games gold medalist Olajide Omotayo, two-time West African champion Matthew Kuti, and exciting prospect Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.

On the women’s side, experienced campaigner Ajoke Ojomu will captain a youthful team featuring Favour Ojo, Aishat Rabiu, Kabirat Ayoola, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan.

The African Championships also double as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, a special centenary edition of the competition returning to its birthplace from 1926.

Nigeria will battle arch-rivals Egypt and a competitive men’s field comprising Tunisia, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.

In the women’s category, Nigeria and Egypt headline a strong lineup that includes Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and hosts Tunisia.