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, held in Macao.

The 4–0 scoreline (14–12, 13–11, 11–9, 11–2) masked what was, at first, a tightly contested battle. Both players exchanged early blows, with Aruna showing glimpses of his usual competitive form, but Kallberg’s precision and tactical discipline proved too much for the Nigerian as the match progressed.

However, as the games wore on, Kallberg’s tactical precision slowly unraveled Aruna’s rhythm, leaving the Nigerian star visibly frustrated as the final African flag at the global tournament was lowered. The first three sets were close, but the fourth set saw Kallberg dominate, sealing a decisive victory to close out the match.

“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, breaking down Aruna’s game and leaving little room for the Nigerian to exploit his usual strengths. Despite Aruna’s best efforts, the Swedish player displayed great composure and control to end the match in straight sets.

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. Aruna’s loss symbolizes the end of African hopes in the tournament, with no African player making it past the group stages.

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, marking another setback for Africa in the competition.

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. Meshref fought hard and won the first set, but Kuai’s adaptive playstyle saw her respond with three consecutive set wins, ultimately prevailing in the match. Kuai praised Meshref’s unique playing style and acknowledged that the Egyptian veteran’s resilience made the contest challenging.

Despite a promising start that saw her snatch the first set, Kuai adapted quickly and praised Meshref’s unique playstyle. “She is a tough opponent, and her game is very different, but I focused on my tactics and stayed composed,” said Kuai after the match.

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. Africa’s table tennis players will be hoping to regroup, strengthen their game, and look ahead to these events in hopes of improving their standing in global competitions.