Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has finished 2025 as Africa’s highest-ranked table tennis player, according to the final men’s rankings released on Tuesday by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Quadri, who held the continental number one spot for much of the year, closed the season ranked 28th in the world with 1,065 points, making him the only African player to surpass the 1,000-point mark in the latest standings, published as Week 1 of 2026.

Egypt’s Omar Assar is the next best-ranked African, placed 32nd globally with 965 points.

The 37-year-old Nigerian amassed his points across a gruelling international calendar, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the ITTF African Cup in Tunis, which earned him 350 ranking points. He also reached the semi-finals of the WTT Star Contender in Doha and advanced to the last 16 at the World Table Tennis Championships Finals, also staged in Doha.

Additional points came from appearances at major events including the Singapore Smash and United States Smash, as well as WTT Champions tournaments in Macao, Chongqing, Incheon, Yokohama and Frankfurt, alongside several WTT Contender and Star Contender competitions.

Quadri’s consistency throughout the season ensured he remained Africa’s leading player, underlining his longevity at the top of the sport on the continent despite fierce global competition dominated by Asian and European stars.

On the world stage, China continues to set the standard, with Wang Chuqin topping the rankings ahead of compatriot Lin Shidong, while Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is the highest-ranked non-Asian player in third place.

A three-time Olympian, Quadri, has represented Nigeria at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Games, famously reaching the quarter-finals in Rio 2016. He made history in May 2022 by becoming the first African to break into the world’s top 10 and remains one of the continent’s most influential figures in table tennis.

His career honours include being named ITTF Star Player of the Year in 2014, winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with Nigeria the same year, and recognition by the Olympic movement as Africa’s most successful Olympic table tennis player of all time.