Nigeria’s table tennis icon Quadri Aruna has accused the government of neglecting him throughout his career, despite historic achievements on the world stage.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Africa’s highest-ranked player said he has relied largely on private sponsors and personal sacrifices for more than 15 years.
“With zero support from Nigeria government, I played 99% of the tournaments without a coach and I travelled most of the time alone,” the 37-year-old wrote.
“Year after year, I keep playing without a coach because Nigeria refused to support me. If I feature in 12 tournaments in a year, Nigeria only pays for one tournament, which is mostly an African event. The rest are self-sponsored or supported by my sponsor, GEWO.”
Screenshot of the Facebook post made by Aruna Quadri.
Records and rankings
First African to reach the ITTF World Cup quarter-finals (2014, Düsseldorf).
First African to reach the Olympic quarter-finals in table tennis (Rio 2016), the best-ever Olympic performance by an African in the sport.
Consistently in the world’s top 20; peaked at World No. 10 in 2022, the highest-ever ranking for an African player.
In 2018, the Olympics described him as Africa’s most successful Olympic table tennis player of all time.
Reached the Round of 16 at the 2025 World Championships in Doha.
Aruna said his rise in 2014 came through outside help. Equipment sponsor Joola provided a coach, while Wahid Enitan Oshodi, now President of the Africa Table Tennis Federation, covered his travel and accommodation at the ITTF World Cup in Düsseldorf.
“Without Joola providing a coach and Oshodi paying for my travel and accommodation, there is no way I would have made history that year,” he said.
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Aruna went on to reach the quarter-finals, the first African player to do so.
Screenshot of the Facebook post made by Aruna Quadri.
Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Oshodi also helped secure a three-year sponsorship deal from betting company Babajebu.
“Without the Babajebu sponsorship, which he secured, I would not have been able to prepare,” Aruna said. He went on to reach the quarter-finals in Rio.
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Aruna said his problems continue. At the 2025 World Championships in Doha, he had to fund his own participation.
“I had to buy my own ticket because they delayed. Then my coach, Dotun Omoniyi, who helped me win two matches, was told to return home because the federation said there was no money to change his flight. I had to beg a friend from Togo to stay with me as a coach in the knockout rounds.”
Screenshot of the Facebook post made by Aruna Quadri.
Career honours
Commonwealth Games: Silver — Men’s Singles (2018, Gold Coast).
African Games: Gold — Men’s Team (2015, Brazzaville); Silver — Men’s Team (2011, Maputo); Silver — Men’s Singles & Team (2015, Brazzaville); Silver — Men’s Singles & Team (2019, Rabat); Silver — Men’s Singles & Team (2023, Accra).
African Championships: Gold — Men’s Team (2024, Addis Ababa).
“It’s time. It’s very important Nigeria start to invest in the present young players to attend tournaments regularly,” he wrote.
