Quadri Aruna returns to the global spotlight in Macao as Nigeria’s only hope at the 2025 ITTF World Cup, facing Benin Republic’s Abdel-Kader Salifou on Monday at the Galaxy Arena.

The 36-year-old, ranked 20th in the world and second in Africa, shares 1290 ranking points with long-time Egyptian rival Omar Assar, who sits one place ahead at 19th. His opponent, Salifou, aged 35, is the lowest-ranked player in the tournament at 117th with 175 points.

Though the matchup favours the Nigerian on paper, Aruna knows the pressure of expectation and the fine margins that define the World Cup stage.

In 2014, Aruna became the first African to reach the quarterfinals of the ITTF World Cup. Over a decade later, his aggressive forehand and high-speed gameplay continue to define his legacy, as Macao offers another platform for him to chase history.

Joining Aruna on the men’s side are Egypt’s Assar and Mohamed El-Beiali, along with Cameroon’s breakout star Ylane Batix, who at 19 years old becomes the first male Cameroonian to qualify for the World Cup.

The women’s draw is spearheaded by Egypt’s teenage sensation Hana Goda, nine-time Africa Cup champion Dina Meshref, and rising talent Mariam Alhodaby. However, one name is prominently missing, Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello.

Bello, one of four African women to qualify for the World Cup, was forced to miss the event due to visa complications. Her highly anticipated debut has been postponed after she was unable to secure a visa to travel to China.

Despite being based in Italy, Bello’s application was denied by the Chinese Embassy in Lagos according to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation. The ITTF had initially listed her for the tournament, but the governing body replaced her with Hong Kong’s Chengzhu Zhu following the setback.

The former Olympian earned her spot in Macao by finishing in the top four at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup in Tunis. The NTTF also confirmed that Bello had held out hope until the weekend, expecting to receive a visa through diplomatic channels. Instead, she will now wait until 2026 to make her World Cup debut.

Returning to the Galaxy Arena in Macao from 14 to 20 April 2025, the ITTF Singles World Cups will bring together the top players in the sport. The format begins with group-stage play before proceeding to knockout rounds, where every match could spell triumph for some and elimination for others.

Winners of the men’s and women’s tournaments will lift the historic Evans and Hammarlund Cups respectively, icons of global table tennis since 1980 and 1996.

Credit: punchng.com