Nigeria Crashes Out of 2025 ITTF African Championships Singles in Tunisia After Promising Start

Nigeria’s bright start to the 2025 ITTF African Championships ended in heartbreak on Tuesday as all ten of the country’s representatives in the singles categories were eliminated in a dramatic series of defeats at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Rades in Tunisia. What began as a continuation of Monday’s perfect performance quickly turned sour, with even team captain Olajide Omotayo bowing out in the round of 16.

After achieving a flawless 9-for-9 advancement from the opening round, expectations were high for Team Nigeria heading into the knockout phase. However, the round of 32 exposed a clear gap in tactical execution and composure as the Nigerians struggled against their North and Central African counterparts. One of the few early successes came from 20-year-old Matthew Kuti, who swept Ivory Coast’s Jean Pierre Bayala 4–0 to reach the last 16, showcasing sharp topspins and quick counterattacks. Unfortunately, his victory was one of only four recorded by the Nigerian contingent throughout the day.

In the women’s draw, 13-year-old Aishat Rabiu exited early after a 4–0 loss to Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana, while Ajoke Ojomu fell to Algeria’s Jade Morice by the same margin. On the men’s side, Taiwo Mati, making a return after three years, was outclassed 4–1 by Egypt’s Badr Mostafa, and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai was defeated by Algeria’s Bella Maheidine despite winning the opening game. Omotayo briefly lifted spirits with a 4–0 victory over South Africa’s Liam Beukes but later lost a tight seven-game battle to Cameroon’s Ylane Batix, ending Nigeria’s singles campaign.

By the close of play, all ten Nigerians had been eliminated — the first time in over a decade that the country failed to reach the quarter-finals in singles. The disappointing outcome highlighted Nigeria’s declining dominance in African table tennis, worsened by the absence of top-ranked Quadri Aruna. Despite flashes of promise from rising stars like Kuti and Rabiu, the technical superiority of their North African rivals proved too much. With hopes in singles dashed, Team Nigeria will now turn attention to the mixed doubles as they seek redemption and a stronger finish in Tunisia.