Nigeria’s table tennis team got off to a flying start at the 2025 ITTF African Championships in Tunisia, winning all nine of their opening-round matches in the singles event on Monday.
Competing at the Salle Multidisciplinaire de Rades, all nine Nigerian players who featured in the round of 64 advanced to the next stage of the competition, marking a perfect start to their continental campaign.
In the absence of Africa’s top-ranked player, Quadri Aruna, the team showed depth and determination across both men’s and women’s singles categories.
In the women’s singles, Sukurat Aiyelabegan and Kabirat Ayoola both advanced without contest after walkovers against Gabon’s Falone Benga and DR Congo’s Regine Ntumba respectively.
Aishat Rabiu overcame a tough challenge from Ghana’s Bernice Borquaye, winning 4–2 (11–6, 5–11, 11–7, 11–8, 5–11, 11–7) in a 38-minute match that tested her consistency and defensive strength.
Favour Ojo produced one of the most dominant performances of the day, sweeping aside Benin’s Stecy Amadji 4–0 (11–3, 11–3, 11–7, 11–5) in under 20 minutes.
On the men’s side, team captain Olajide Omotayo led by example with a 4–1 win over Madagascar’s Setra Rakotoarisoa, showing composure and power throughout the contest.
Rising star Abdulbasit Abdulfatai also impressed, defeating Benin’s Farouk Salifou in straight sets (11–8, 11–7, 11–4, 11–9), while Muizz Adegoke cruised past Angola’s Elizandro Andre 4–0 (11–6, 11–5, 11–4, 11–4).
Matthew Kuti fought back from a slow start to beat Togo’s Sedik Tchagole 4–1, while Taiwo Mati, making his return to the national team after nearly three years, rounded off the perfect day with a 4–0 win against Ghana’s James Marfo.
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All nine players will now compete in the round of 32 on Tuesday as Nigeria looks to maintain its winning momentum.
Abdulfatai will face Algeria’s Bella Maheidine, Omotayo meets South Africa’s Liam Beukes, Adegoke plays Benin’s Abdel-Kader Salifou, Kuti faces Ivory Coast’s Jean Pierre Bayala, and Mati takes on Egypt’s Badr Mostafa.
In the women’s draw, Ajoke Ojomuh, who received a first-round bye, begins her campaign against Algeria’s Jade Morice. Aiyelabegan meets Houda Taguercifi (Algeria), Rabiu faces Hanitra Raharimanana (Madagascar), Ayoola plays Ghana’s Cynthia Kwabi, while Ojo battles Cameroon’s Lorenza Koulaouinhi.
The round of 16 matches will also be played later on Tuesday.
Nigeria will be hoping to sustain its dominance as the tournament progresses, with the goal of reclaiming the men’s singles title last won by Quadri Aruna in 2023 and ending their long wait for a women’s title since 2016.