Nigeria’s top table tennis players have slipped down the latest International Table Tennis Federation world rankings, which were released yesterday. The changes mark a noticeable shift for several athletes, including Africa’s most prominent men’s names.
At a glance
- Quadri Aruna fell 20 spots to World No. 76 and is no longer Africa’s top-ranked player.
- Omar Assar leads Africa at World No. 31, with Yousef Abdelaziz moving above Aruna in the continental standings.
- Mehdi Bouloussa of Algeria also overtook Aruna, leaving the Nigerian in fourth place in Africa.
- Olajide Omotayo dropped six places to World No. 193 and is 12th in Africa.
- In the women’s rankings, Fatimo Bello remains Nigeria’s highest-ranked player at World No. 171.
Quadri Aruna, widely regarded as Africa’s most decorated table tennis player, has slid 20 places to World No. 76. The drop also means he has lost his standing as the continent’s top-ranked performer.
Egyptian ace Omar Assar is now leading the African rankings at World No. 31. Yousef Abdelaziz, also from Egypt, has climbed past Aruna in the continental list, while Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa has moved ahead as well—pushing Aruna down to fourth on the continent.
The updated rankings come as a reflection of a difficult spell for Aruna, the 2024 African Games silver medallist. He has struggled to maintain consistent form on the international circuit in recent months.
Other Nigerian men
Olajide Omotayo is another Nigerian affected by the latest standings, dropping six places to World No. 193. He is currently ranked 12th across Africa, as competition tightens at the top of the continent.
Matthew Kuti occupies World No. 198, while Abdulbasit Abdulfatai sits at World No. 226 globally. With multiple players moving down, Nigeria’s men’s group will be looking for a quick response in upcoming events.
Women’s rankings
On the women’s side, Fatimo Bello remains Nigeria’s highest-ranked player even after falling to World No. 171. Ajoke Ojomu is placed at World No. 175.
Shukurat Aiyelabegan and Favour Ojo follow in the global standings at World No. 224 and World No. 254 respectively. Despite the drops, Nigeria still has a clear presence in the women’s rankings, led by Bello.
Nigeria’s players will now turn their focus to upcoming WTT tournaments and continental events. The aim is to rebuild momentum and climb back up the world rankings after this latest setback.
