Musa Mustapha, an 11 year old Nigerian, has been ranked as the world’s best player in the boys’ U-11 cadet category. He has also become the second African to achieve the number one spot in the world after Hana Goda. Egypt’s Hana Goda was named the best U-15 girl table tennis player in the world.
According to International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Mustapha’s 128 points crowned him as the top player in the under-11 category. He also competed in the U-13 level; where he emerged as number 17th while his brother rated number 18th in the same competition.
The Mustapha brothers, Musa and Mustapha are back again for the Nigeria Open, a year older and perhaps wiser.
Although they both fell at the very first hurdle to older opponents in the qualifying stage of the U21 men's singles.#NigeriaOpen19#NigeriaOpen2019 pic.twitter.com/oYyknRoRsB— ITTF Nigeria Open (@ITTFNigeriaOpen) August 7, 2019
It is additionally noteworthy that Musa Mustapha came into the limelight at the Nigeria Open in Lagos, in the year 2018. He also participated alongside the Nigerian team in the 2019 ITTF Junior Circuit in Ghana. He was only 9-years-old at that time, and he lost 3-0 to Falana Tobi.
The young champion is expected to participate in the upcoming WTT youth series; which is to take place in Portugal from May 11 to 17.
According to ITTF, the newly formed WTT Youth Series, has replaced the ITTF World Junior Circuit and is now complemented by the new ranking regulations; being the first step in the whole of sport pathway that will drive today’s most promising young talent towards the pinnacle of the sport.
When the young champion lost his game in 2018, he said;“I am nine-year-old and I have been playing table tennis since 2017. I have all it takes to win the championship in the future.”
Indeed, he has made good his affirmation.
