Nigeria’s table tennis ecosystem has witnessed prodigious talents that have etched the country’s name in gold with eye-catching performances at national, continental and global tournaments.

The history of the sport in Nigeria will remain incomplete without a mention of pacesetters like Atanda Musa, Olufunke Oshinake, Segun Toriola, Bose Kafo, Bode Abiodun, Kazeem Nasiru, Monday Merotohoun, Offiong Edem, Adeyemo Fatai, Cecilia Otu Offiong and a host of others who paved the way for others to follow.

Without doubt, the reigning African champion and the poster-boy of Nigerian table tennis, Quadri Aruna with his compatriots like Fatimo Bello and Omotayo Olajide, are among the players who have successfully maintained or extended the historic performances of their predecessors like Toriola, Merotohoun, Oshinake, Offiong and Edem.

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Now that the likes of Quadri are gradually approaching the exit doors, there seems to be emerging young players who have convinced and demonstrated their capacities on the table to continue to hoist the Nigerian in both national and international competitions in the absence of their torchbearers.

These young and energetic players are building for themselves reputations, exuding their passion for the game and gradually becoming forces to reckon with. They are indeed projecting themselves as the future of the sport in Nigeria. 

Weekend Trust Sports, therefore, highlights some of these emerging talents in Nigerian table tennis, who are poised to sustain the culture of excellence and dominance established by some of their mentors in the ping pong game.

Matthew Kuti

His name evokes fond memories whenever he steps out to face the challenge presented by any player inside the Molade Okoya-Thomas indoor sports hall at Teslim Balogun Stadium.  

The youngster, who is becoming a threat to opponents, has enjoyed an impressive run, earning silver medals at the 2024 and 2025 African Championships in Tunis and Addis Ababa respectively.

In 2024, Kuti, known for his quick forceful smash and edging of the ball to an uncomfortable position against his opponents, won the National Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup and the Elicris Table Tennis Cup.

The Lagos-born represented Nigeria at the 2023 African Games and was shortlisted as the youngest player at the 2025 African Cup in Tunisia.

Muiz Adegoke 

Adegoke is a 200-level student of the Lagos State University (LASU). The promising young player made his senior debut at the 2024 ITTF African Championships in Addis Ababa. He was part of the Nigerian team that triumphed at the 2024 West Africa Regional Championships in Lomé, Togo. 

He also emerged as the champion of the Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Championship in 2023, placing himself among the future greats of the sport in Nigeria.

Taiwo Mati 

He is undoubtedly one of the brightest hopes and future of table tennis in Nigeria. In 2023, Mati reached the round of 32 at the ITTF World Championship in Durban, defeating Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang in a thrilling comeback. His performance earned him a spot among the top 100 in the ITTF world rankings and the number one position in Africa. 

Additionally, he was awarded the ITTF “With The Future In Mind” scholarship aimed at supporting his development towards the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

In 2022, he clinched the U-19 title at the ITTF African Youth Championship in Tunisia and later helped Nigeria secure gold in the team event. He also won the U-19 boys’ doubles gold, alongside Samuel Boboye. 

Kemela Udoh 

The youngster announced his arrival in the game of table tennis, clinching gold medals for Bayelsa in the men’s singles at the just concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival, (NDSF), setting himself on a path of greatness.

Udoh was adopted by the Bayelsa State table tennis in 2019. He has proven his improved status through exposure to rigorous training as witnessed by his meteoric rise, signaling a compelling reflection of when talent meets opportunity and testament of a new breed of champions in the net of Team Nigeria.

The youngster’s victory lit the hopes of Bayelsa becoming the home ground of nurturing table tennis talents and hopefully break the jinx of Nigeria’s underwhelming performance in international competitions.

Matthew John

The Benson Idahosa University (BIU) undergraduate recently achieved a major feat by securing the ticket to represent Nigeria at the Rhine-Rhur FISU World University Games in Germany.

John, a product of the Bayelsa State table tennis, shone brightly at the FISU trail held at University of Jos (UNIJOS) from April 4 to 6, stealing the spotlight with a stellar performance.  

The BIU undergraduate boasts of two consecutive titles he won at the Offiong Edem Foundation Table Tennis Tournament in 2023 and 2024 respectively. 

Hope Udoka

As her name implies, the Cross River-born is becoming a beacon of hope to the female table tennis in Nigeria. She burst onto the national scene like a comet, clinching victory in the “Elirics Table Tennis Top 32” female category in 2024.

The table tennis sensation, who has been gaining attention for her exceptional skills, is fast becoming one of the country’s most promising female players. 

Rabiat Ayoola

The Hijab-wearing female table tennis player is fast becoming one of the strong hands in the sport. In 2024, Ayoola, who represented Oyo, won the Daniel Ford Table Tennis Championship after a nerve-wracking seven-set thriller against her long-standing rival, Aishat Rabiu.

Ayoola embodies the potential prospect of raising the bar of Nigeria’s female table tennis, which is less competitive.

Aishat Rabiu

Among names that ring a bell in Lagos’ female table tennis player prospect, Aishat stands out.  She has represented the state at the 2024 National Sport Festival, winning gold alongside Faisat Musbau in the girls double.

Aishat, who is known for her precision and tactical brilliance, has claimed some titles at major competitions, enjoying the tactical guidance from her father, who serves as her coach.

Samuel Boboye

He is one of Nigeria’s medal hopefuls at the 2025 FISU World University Games scheduled to be held from July 16 to 27. He clinched the gold medal in the Under-19 category at the 2022 ITTF Africa Youth Championship in Tunisia, contributing to Nigeria’s qualification for the 2022 ITTF World Youth Championship.

Boboye, an undergraduate of Benson Idahosa University (BIU), is poised to become a leading figure in African table tennis. His dedication, skill and composure under pressure suggest a promising future on both continental and global stages.