Nigeria Is Africa's Best In Table Tennis

Olabanjo

Nigeria is now Africa's best in Table Tennis ,following the latest in the team ranking released by the International Table Tennis Federation ( ITTF) .

Nigeria with 216 points is now ranked 25 in the men's Olympic Team event ahead of Egypt, which now occupies 32 spot  with 202 points.

Following the performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded ITTF World Team Championship, the Segun Toriola-led side has moved up in the latest ITTF World Ranking.

Prior to the ITTF World Team Championship in Malaysia Nigeria  was rated 32 behind Egypt which placed 25, but the outstanding performance of the team in the Asian nation contributed to the rise in the world rating.

Cong Brazzaville,Algeria,Tunisia,Togo,South Africa,Ghana,and Angola are the top African Nations listed.

China,remains world's best ping ponging nation followed by Germany,Japan ,Hong Kong and Korea Republic in the five top listing.

In the women's rating, Egypt remains the best in the continent as the North African country  is now ranked 29 while the absence of Nigeria may have caused her slide to 40^th place in the world.

Despite the slumping of Nigeria, the team still remains the second best team in Africa ahead of Congo Brazzaville, Algeria and Tunisia.

Former Secretary General, Nigeria Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee,Olabanji Oladapo , lamented the absence of the Nigeria women team, which he said would cause the team to play in lower division in next edition of the tournament. 

“The absence of Nigerian women meant that they cannot qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics Game. They are likely to be relegated to lower division too. This will be confirmed after the WTTC. What is obvious is their drop below Egypt, Congo Brazzaville, Algeria and probably South Africa in ranking as they were all at the competition. We will feel the effect of our "no show" in African multi-sports games like African Games,” he regretted.