Nigeria table tennis player Taiwo Mati believes the presence of veteran Quadri Aruna will instill confidence in the Nigerian team as they prepare to battle for honours at the 2026 World Team Championships, scheduled to hold from April 28 to May 10 in London, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Ranked second in Africa and 26th globally in the team event, the West Africans will head to London aiming to improve on their disappointing outing at the 2024 edition in South Korea.
At that tournament, Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, and Bode Abiodun failed to progress beyond the group stage after defeats to Chinese Taipei, the Czech Republic, Japan, and Madagascar.
This year, Aruna is again expected to lead the team as Nigeria seek to navigate past Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa at the OVO Arena Wembley.
Ahead of the tournament, Aruna continues to earn praise for his consistency, with Mati emphasising the value of his experience, leadership, and presence within the squad.
“Quadri Aruna brings a lot to the team in terms of leadership and confidence. Having him in the team is a huge motivation for us,” Mati told Flashscore
You know he is a big player with a wealth of experience, having participated in several Olympics and World Championships. Having him in the team gives us more confidence.
“Aruna has reached the quarter-finals before, and in the last World Championship I competed in, I made it to the round of 32, which was one of my best results.”
The 37-year-old remains a trailblazer in African table tennis, having become the first player from the continent to reach the Olympic quarter-finals in the sport. He is also the second most decorated player in the history of the ITTF Africa Championships.
Nigeria secured qualification for the London championships following dominant performances at the 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis, Tunisia. The three-time African champions recorded emphatic 3–0 victories over Cameroon and South Africa in Group B to book their place.
London 2026 marks exactly 100 years since the inaugural World Table Tennis Championships were held in the city in 1926, making this edition one of the most significant in the tournament’s history.
By: Abiodun Adewale
