Nigeria’s emerging table tennis talents, Matthew Kuti and Muizz Adegoke, made impressive strides in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings for Week 41, released on Tuesday. Both players climbed five places each, continuing Nigeria’s steady rise in global standings.
Veteran star Quadri Aruna remains Nigeria’s highest-ranked player and Africa’s top performer, holding 25th position with 1,185 points. The 37-year-old continues to lead the continent’s charge ahead of Egypt’s Omar Assar and Youssef Abdelaziz, who sit outside the top 30.
Aruna’s sustained excellence on the global stage underlines his dominance as one of the few African players consistently competing among the elite on the World Table Tennis (WTT) circuit.
Behind him, 19-year-old Matthew Kuti continued his upward trajectory, moving up five places to 195th with 89 points following strong showings at international youth and challenger events. Abdulbasit Abdulfatai also rose four spots to 202nd with 81 points, while Olajide Omotayo, a key member of Nigeria’s 2022 Commonwealth Games team, climbed to 208th.
Further down the men’s rankings, Taiwo Mati gained three places to sit 220th, while 17-year-old Muizz Adegoke, a standout performer at the African Youth Championships, moved up five spots to 237th — cementing his status as one of Nigeria’s brightest young prospects.
Other Nigerian players who recorded upward movements include Kolasi Wasiu (352nd), Rilwan Akanbi (405th), Mathew Fabunmi (407th), and Azeez Solanke (432nd), marking a positive trend for Nigeria’s men’s table tennis scene.
In the women’s rankings, Fatimo Bello continues to lead the Nigerian contingent, ranked 120th with 189 points. Ajoke Ojomu follows in 156th after moving up two places, while Aminat Fashola (180th) and Sukurat Aiyelabegan (208th) also made progress. Favour Ojo rose to 270th, with Hope Udoaka (286th), Kabirat Ayoola (309th), and Aziza Sezuo (316th) all improving their positions.
Six young Nigerian players — Aishat Rabiu, Iyanuoluwa Falana, Onyinyechi Mbah, Asiaju Bisola, Maryam Ahmed, and Joy Emmanuel — are tied between 379th and 385th, each gaining four places as they seek greater international exposure.
Globally, China continues to dominate the sport, occupying the top positions in both the men’s and women’s rankings.
In the men’s category, Wang Chuqin retains the world No. 1 spot with 10,900 points, followed by compatriot Lin Shidong (8,075). Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is third, ahead of Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and France’s Félix Lebrun. Sweden’s Truls Moregard (6th) is the only European in the top six, while Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic round out the top 10.
On the women’s side, Sun Yingsha leads the pack with 11,600 points, ahead of compatriots Wang Manyu (8,850) and Chen Xingtong (6,075). Kuai Man and Wang Yidi complete an all-Chinese top five, followed by Macau’s Zhu Yuling, and Japan’s trio Miwa Harimoto, Mima Ito, and Satsuki Odo, alongside Chen Yi of China.
The latest rankings come just ahead of the 2025 ITTF African Championships in Tunis, where Aruna will lead Nigeria’s men’s squad alongside Mati, Omotayo, Kuti, and Abdulfatai.
The women’s team will be captained by Ojomu, supported by Ojo, Rabiu, Ayoola, and Aiyelabegan. With continental honours and qualification for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships at stake, Nigeria’s top players will aim to convert their global momentum into medals when the tournament begins on October 12.
