TTF Team Ranking: Nigeria Is Now 24th

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 with the West Africa giant rated 24 as the best African team in the globe.
In the team ranking released by the world table tennis ruling body – ITTF, Nigeria with 216 points is ranked 24 ahead of Egypt, which now occupies 29th with 208 points.
Prior to the ITTF World Team Championship in Malaysia now was rated 32 behind Egypt which placed 25, but the outstanding outing of the team in the Asian nation contributed to the rise in the world rating.
In the women rating, Egypt remains the best in the continent as the North Africa is now ranked 29 while the absence of Nigeria may have caused their slide to 40th 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.
Also, China, who swept the men and women titles at the ITTF World Team Championship remains the best teams in the world.
For the Vice President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Olabanji Oladapo, the performance of Team Nigeria is commendable but the lack of support from government may not augur well for the sport.
“Considering the level of preparations, their performances were very surprising but good as they topped their highly competitive group consisting of five top Table Tennis playing nations including Slovakia and India. Lack of effective preparations and stamina for the competition affected them and caused their loss to India in the quarterfinal. The team they beat 3-0 at the group stage. Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola impressed the spectators with their outstanding performances despite playing without a technically sound coach on the bench. We have the players and we know our generic problems,” he said.
The former Secretary General, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) however, 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.
To help grow the sport, the member of ITTF Board of Directors said: “To improve the game in our country, we must go to the basics in all our sports. Refocus development of Table Tennis in schools, on the streets and neighbourhood and re-create sporting activities culture which produced our past heroes. Invest in Table Tennis equipment, players, technical officials and administrators. That is what most countries are doing and that is why some small countries are dwarfing big countries in sports challenge.”