Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, Africa’s last standing competitor, bowed out in devastating fashion following a ruthless straight-sets defeat to Sweden’s Anton Kallberg in a disheartening end for Africa at the 2025 ITTF World Cup, in Macao.
The 4–0 scoreline (14–12, 13–11, 11–9, 11–2) masked what was, at first, a tightly contested battle.
However, as the games wore on, Kallberg’s tactical precision unraveled Aruna’s rhythm, leaving the Nigerian star visibly frustrated as the final African flag at the global tournament was lowered.
“It’s always a tough match against Quadri. We’ve played quite a few times recently and know each other well ,” Kallberg admitted after his victory.
“He is really strong with a big forehand, so I had to be careful. I’ve beaten him in the past, so I had a clear idea of the tactics I wanted to use.”
Kallberg, who reached the quarterfinals in the previous edition of the tournament, seemed almost surgical in his approach.
The the defeat ends Aruna’s run in Macao but also casts a spotlight on Africa’s broader struggles at the elite level of global table tennis.
The 2025 edition has been particularly brutal for African representatives, all of whom crashed out at the group stage.
Egypt’s Omar Assar, the continent’s top-ranked player and current ITTF Africa Cup champion, was outmaneuvered by South Korea’s Jeahyun An in a 3–1 defeat.
While in the women’s draw, Africa’s hopes were also dashed. Veteran Egyptian star Dina Meshref was edged out 3–1 by China’s Man Kuai.
Despite a promising start that saw her snatch the first set, Kuai adapted quickly and praised Meshref’s unique playstyle.
The spotlight now turns to the upcoming African Championships and the 2025 African Games—tournaments that could serve as redemption arcs or grim reminders of a widening gap on the world stage.
