Veteran Nigerian table tennis icon, Quadri Aruna, made a bold statement at the ITTF World Cup Macao 2025 by opening his campaign with a solid 3-1 victory over Abdel-Kader Salifou. Aruna, ranked 20th in the world and second in Africa, displayed trademark grit and flair to dispatch Salifou with scores of 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8.The win places him in a strong position ahead of his decisive group stage tie against Sweden’s Anton Källberg, a match that could determine his place in the knockout rounds.
Aruna has long been the face of Nigerian and African table tennis on the global stage. He made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics by becoming the first African to reach the quarterfinals in table tennis, a feat that instantly catapulted him into international acclaim. His remarkable career includes multiple African Championships, and he was crowned the 2018 ITTF Africa Cup champion. In 2021, he broke another barrier by becoming the first African player to reach the Top 15 in the ITTF World Rankings.
The 2025 season has seen Aruna continue to shine. He recently finished as runner up at the ITTF Africa Cup, losing narrowly to long time rival Omar Assar of Egypt in a thrilling seven set final. Despite the loss, Aruna’s consistency and leadership remain unmatched. He is celebrated not only for his aggressive forehand dominated style of play but also for being a role model to the next generation of African players.As he gears up for his clash against Källberg in Macao, Quadri Aruna carries not just his personal ambitions, but the hopes of a continent. With decades of excellence, and pioneering achievements behind him, Aruna remains one of Africa’s greatest sporting exports still writing his legacy, one match at a time.