ITTF World Cup: Winning start for Quadri Aruna
Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna began his 2025 ITTF World Cup campaign with a gritty 3-1 (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8) win over Benin’s Abdel-Kader Salifou in one of the headline matches on day one of the tournament in Macao.
The tie, a rematch of their ITTF African Cup encounter, was filled with momentum shifts as both players showed flashes of why they are among the continent’s finest. Aruna, however, held his nerve at critical moments, fending off a comeback from Salifou to secure the victory.
The Nigerian, ranked 20th in the world, had to dig deep—especially in the fourth game, where Salifou led 8-6 before Aruna rallied to close out the match.
The win puts Aruna on solid footing as he looks to advance from the group stage in this revamped World Cup format.
Elsewhere, Africa’s other major representative, Egypt’s Hana Goda, cruised to a 4-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8) win over Malaysia’s Seak Hui Li. Goda, fresh off her African Cup triumph, delivered a commanding performance, never allowing her opponent a foothold in the match.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref also began her campaign on a high note with a 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 11-5, 6-11) victory over Zhu Chengzhu, showcasing her experience in her eighth World Cup appearance.
