Kuti’s Rise Sparks Shake-Up in Nigeria’s Rankings
Matthew Kuti’s steady climb on the global table tennis stage has triggered a reshuffling of Nigeria’s male player rankings, with the youngster overtaking former African Games champion Olajide Omotayo in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) update for Week 32 of the 2025 season.
Kuti’s recent surge—powered by his West Africa Regional Championships triumph in Lagos—saw him earn 75 ranking points from the event, complemented by 10 more from the World Championships in Doha and four from the WTT Contender Lagos. With a total of 89 points, the 19-year-old now sits 194th in the world.
In contrast, Omotayo dropped to 198th after a disappointing performance in Lagos, where he failed to gather any significant points, leaving him on 78.
While Kuti’s rise was the main storyline, Nigeria’s table tennis scene experienced broader shifts. Africa’s most decorated male player, Quadri Aruna, reclaimed the top continental spot, moving up three places to 21st globally. Despite being inactive in recent weeks, Aruna benefited from the ITTF’s 12-month rolling system, which phased out points from less consistent rivals.
Egypt’s Omar Assar, who briefly held the continental lead, has now slipped behind Aruna.
Among other Nigerian men making moves, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai and Taiwo Mati maintained their presence just outside the top 200. Abdulfatai climbed to 205th, with all 74 of his points earned in Lagos. Fifty-five came from a runner-up finish at the West Africa Regional Championships and 19 from the WTT Contender.
Mati, ranked 213th, secured 60 total points—35 from a Round of 16 finish at WTT Contender Lagos, 25 from reaching the semi-finals in the regional championship, and additional points from global stops in Cagliari (3), Muscat, Tunis, and Skopje (2 each).
Muizz Adegoke also advanced to 232nd, with a 59-point tally.
On the women’s side, despite dropping 17 places to 134th, Fatimo Bello remained Nigeria’s top-ranked female athlete. Her standout performance at the African Cup in Tunis delivered 175 of her 189 total points.
Ajoke Ojomu rose to 153rd after gathering 120 points—75 from her West Africa title win, 35 from WTT Contender Lagos, and 10 from Doha.
Aminat Fashola completed the country’s top three women, ranked 174th with 94 points.
As Olympic qualifiers and international events approach, these shifts in rankings could impact seedings and national team selections.
