Aruna Quadri delivers under pressure as Nigeria's campaign splits in London
Team Nigeria’s outing at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 swung between resilience and frustration on Tuesday, as the men edged a tense victory over Saudi Arabia while the women suffered a straight-sets defeat to Wales at the Copper Box Arena.
In a competition already proving unforgiving, Nigeria’s men showed nerve when it mattered most. Their Group 15 tie against Saudi Arabia went the distance, and it was Quadri Aruna who ultimately stood tall, anchoring a dramatic 3–2 win to keep their campaign firmly on track.
The contest, however, did not begin in Nigeria’s favour. Matthew Kuti endured a difficult start, falling in straight sets to Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi before losing another hard-fought five-set clash to Ali Alkhadrawi. With momentum slipping and pressure mounting, Nigeria found themselves in a precarious position.
But as the tie hung in the balance at 2–2, Aruna stepped forward with trademark composure. The world number 48 delivered in the decisive rubber, overcoming Bu Shulaybi in a pulsating five-set battle. Mixing control with precision, Aruna sealed the victory 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6 dragging Nigeria over the line and preserving their hopes of topping the group ahead of sterner tests.
While the men celebrated a hard-earned win, it was a more sobering outing for the women in Group 11. Nigeria fell 3–0 to a clinical Welsh side, though the scoreline did not fully capture the fight within the team.
Ajoke Ojomu was first to the table but struggled to find rhythm against Anna Hursey, going down in straight sets. Shukurat Aiyelabegan followed with a similar fate against Charlotte Carey, as Wales tightened their grip on the tie with another dominant performance.
The highlight of Nigeria’s effort came through Fatimo Bello, who produced a spirited display against Danielle Kelly. In the most competitive match of the tie, Bello pushed her opponent to five sets, trading momentum in a gripping contest. Despite her resilience, she narrowly fell short, as Wales completed a 3–0 sweep.
The defeat leaves Nigeria’s women with little margin for error, with upcoming fixtures against Australia and Uzbekistan now crucial to their chances of progressing beyond the group stage.
For Nigeria, it is a campaign already defined by fine margins where Aruna’s heroics have kept the men afloat, but the broader picture remains delicately balanced as the championship unfolds in London.
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