Nigeria’s rising star Matthew Kuti has been named the Most Improved Male Player at the 2025 ITTF Africa Championships in Tunis, capping off a breakthrough season that saw him break into the world’s top 200 for the first time.
The 14-year-old was recognised by the International Table Tennis Federation Africa after a series of impressive displays that helped Nigeria reach the semi-finals of the continental showpiece.
“Congratulations to Kuti Matthew — named @ethiopian_holidays Most Improved Player of the tournament,” ITTF Africa announced after the championship concluded.
“The reigning West African Champion was pivotal in Nigeria’s run to the semi-finals in Tunis.”
The Nigeria’s men’s team also received the STAG Fair Play Award due to their sportsmanship action in their final group match when they offered to switch from green to red jerseys, even after winning the coin toss, so Morocco could wear their green kits with names, in line with tournament rules.
Kuti, who plays with a right-hand shakehand attacking style, achieved a career-high world ranking of 179 in October, his best-ever position.
The young Nigerian has been one of the standout performers on the continent this year, winning 42 of his 62 matches across 10 events in 2025, with a total of 4,282 points earned.
His standout moment came earlier in the year when he captured the men’s singles title at the West Africa Regional Championships in Lagos, defeating top-seeded opponents to win his first major senior crown.
At the Africa Championships in Tunis, Kuti continued his fine form, defeating Togo’s Sedik Tchagole 4–1 in the round of 64 and Ivory Coast’s Jean Pierre Bayala 4–0 in the round of 32. His run ended in the round of 16 after a hard-fought 4–1 defeat to Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali, one of the continent’s top-ranked players.
Kuti also made a mark in the doubles event, partnering Ajoke Ojomu in a thrilling mixed doubles comeback against Algeria’s Jade Morice and Mehdi Bollousa, overturning a 0–2 deficit to win 3–2.
AccessPost confirmed that, His rise came during Nigeria’s downturn in African table tennis, but the men’s and women’s teams both managed to secure qualification for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London after finishing among the top four in Tunis, alongside Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.
Kuti’s recognition as Africa’s most improved player highlights his growing reputation as one of the continent’s brightest prospects. Though yet to win a senior WTT title, his consistency and rapid progress at the elite level signal a promising future for Nigerian table tennis.
Having made his senior debut at the 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana, he has now featured in 20 international events, amassing 89 wins in 120 career matches. His continued development is seen as vital to Nigeria’s bid to reclaim its former dominance in African table tennis, once ruled by legends such as Segun Toriola and currently led by Quadri Aruna.
