Nigeria’s table tennis team defeated Spain 3-1 in the round of 16 stage at the ongoing Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad, Sweden.
They will face Slovakia who handed them their only defeat in the group stage of the tournament in the quarter-final game at noon on Friday.
Quadri Aruna fought back from a set down to beat Carlos Machado 3-1. The 29-year-old won the game (13-15, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4)
Alvaro Robles restored parity for Spain defeating Nigeria’s oldest player in the team, Segun Toriola in three straight sets (13-11, 11-5, 12-10)
Bode Abiodun restored Nigeria’s lead beating Cantero Jesus 3-0 (12-10, 12-10, 11-6).
Aruna sealed quarter-final place for Nigeria defeating Toriola’s conqueror, Alvaro Robles 3-1 (13-11,3-11,11-2,11-7).
Nigeria will face either Italy or Hungary in the semi-finals if they get past Slovakia.
