Tunisia 2015 AJC: Ubale Charges Nigerian Players As Championship Serves Off

The 2015 Africa Junior Tennis Championship will serve off tomorrow in Tunis with no fewer than three Nigerian players scheduled to be in action.

National junior tennis coach Mohammed Ubale, who is the leader of the nine-man team that included eight players, admitted that the Nigerian players will have to put up an optimum performance if they are to finish in the medal zone due to the pedigree of countries that are featuring in the clay court tournament.

The draws for the matches are due to be made late Tuesday (today) and Ubale while speaking form the North African country said the quality of players from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt Tunisia among others means that victory will not be achieved on a platter of gold by the Nigerian players who dominated the West & Central African championship held in Togo in January.

“The AJC is a gathering of the best junior players on the continent and while Nigeria has been the undisputed leading nation in the West and Central Africa Zone which consists of about 16 countries, the high standard of players from across Africa means we have to be at our best to make a meaningful impact here in Tunisia.

Ubale however expressed confidence in the form of Oyinlomo Quadri, who accounted for two of Nigeria’s eight gold medals at the qualifier in Lome.

“Oyin is in great form and also is McCleod who has kept improving since she shifted her base from Dubai to Lagos last year.

“The players just need to push a bit further and also have the belief that they can compete among the best at this level. If they play up to their potentials they will go as far as reaching the medals zone,” Ubale submitted.

Tunisia 2015 AJC: Oyinlomo Leads Team Nigeria With Country Club Title

Oyinlomo Quadri reaffirmed her readiness for a remarkable outing at the ITF Africa Junior Tennis Championship which commences this week in Tunis, Tunisia, by clinching the top prize at the 1st MP Tennis Championship concluded at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja at the weekend.

Quadri, the Western & Central African U-14 Girls’ champion edged her Tunisia-bound teammate, Angel McCleod in a thrilling final winning 4-2, 3-5 10-5 to set off for the clay court tournament at the Mediterranean country on a winning note.

“I will do my best to make sure that I get a medal for Nigeria in the AJC,” The 13 year-old said after her triumph over McCleod, who is also 13, but will be featuring in the U-16 category as part of strategies aimed at fast-tracking her development.

Another member of the AJC team, Martins Abamu lost to Christopher Bulus 4-1, 2-4, 5-10 in the boys’ U-16 where Michael Oshewa and Ayoola Micheal, both of whom are also in the train to Tunisia, reached the semifinals.

Star-prospect Serena Teluwo was impressive as she recovered from a set down to beat Mary Udofia 1-4, 4-2, 10-8 for the Grils’U-10 title while Gabriel Ekundayo clinched the boys’ version by beating Stephen Akpanke 4-1, 4-2. Matthew Abamu defeated Wilson Igbinovia 4-2, 4-1 for the Boys’ U-12 title.

Meanwhile, an eight-man delegation is scheduled to depart Lagos for Tunisia via Morocco in the early hours of Monday. The team includes Oyinlomo Quadri, Angel McCleod, Blessing Patrick, Timipre Godsgift, Micheal Oshewa, Michael Ayoola and Martins Abamu.

National junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale, who is leading the team, said Adetayo Adetunji will be joining the team from her base in South Africa via France.

Nigeria emerged overall champions at the qualifiers in Togo which featured nine countries.

Tunisia 2015 AJC: National Players Swoop On Titles At Country Club Tourney

Tunisia-bound national junior players will be the centre of attraction as the final of the MP Tennis Championship holds today at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

The five-day clay court tournament is serving as the final build-up for Nigerian players to the forthcoming African Junior Tennis Championship serving off on Monday in Tunis, Tunisia.

Martins Abamu, who will be representing the country in the Boys’ U-16 category, is the overwhelming favourite for the title, while Micheal Ayoola and Michael Oshewa, who will be competing in the U-14 are also in pole position to clinch the final places.

In the girls’ U-16 category, Angel McCleod looks unstoppable to clinch the top prize but she is expected to be given a tough match by her Team Nigeria teammate Oyinlomo Quadri.

13-year-old Quadri was the only player to bag two gold medals for Nigeria at the West & Central Africa Circuit which served as qualifier for the AJC in January in Lome.

Meanwhile Serena Teluwo will battle Reya Holmes in one of the semifnal matches of the girls’ U-10 billed for Friday while Oyinkansolami Doruwoju and Mary Udofia clash in the other semifinal.

Serena, who is regarded as another star-prospect by national junior coach Mohammed Ubale, topped her group by beating Doruwoju 4-2, 4-2 and Basirat Okunola 4-0, 4-0 in her opening group matches before finishing the day with sheer perfection with another 4-0, 4-0 win over Ozia Yajubu.

Gabriel Ekundayo and Joseph Fortune will battle for a place in the final of the Boy’s U-10 with the winner confronting the victor of the tie between Kehinde Ganiyu and Stephen Akpanke.

Ahead Tunisia 2015 AJC: McCleod, Quadri Dominate At Country Club Tourney

Fast-rising Nigerian tennis teenager, Angel McCleod underlined her intention to make a great impact in the 2015 Africa Junior Tennis Championship billed for Tunis, Tunisia next week as she coasted home to comfortable victories in the on-going MP Tennis Junior Championship holding at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

The half-caste, who recently featured in the ITF Circuit in Nairobi Kenya where she was able to amass crucial points that saw her move up in the global rankings was the star performer of the day as she defeated Lolade Holmes 4-0, 4-1 in the first of her four round-robin matches in Group A of the U-16 before going on to claim the scalps of both Toyin Asogba and Venus Ubiebi 4-0, 4-1 and 4-0,4-0 respectively to earn a spot in the knock-out stage of the five-day event serving as Nigeria’s preparation for the continental tournament in the North African country.

Another member of Nigeria’s eight-man team to the Mediterranean nation, Oyinlomo Qaudri also sustained the form that saw her claimed two gold medals for the country at the Togo 2015 West & Central African Championship that served as qualifiers.

Quadri, 13, started her Group B matches with a 4-0, 4-1 triumph over Jumai Mohammed and also breezed past Zainab Okunola 4-0, 4-0 before adding Marylove Edwards as her last casualty of the day with a 4-1, 4-1 win.

Meanwhile, national junior coach Mohammed Ubale will be on ground to assess the performance of the players. He is expected to be joined by three other members of the Tunisia-bound team, who have been fine-tuning strategies in various parts of the country.

Tunisia 2015 AJC: Nigerian Players In Winning Form At Country Club Tourney

Nigerian players to the forthcoming ITF African Junior Tennis Championship serving off next week in Tunisia all put up impressive performances in their opening matches at the MP Tennis Championship holding at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

The clay court event which is serving as the last-lap of preparations for the championship that will feature more than 30 countries saw Martins Abamu recording a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ayomide Jebutu in his first match in the U-16, while he also bagged a 4-0, 4-0 over Kazeem Fadipe in the second of his round-robin matches in Group A.

Michael Ayoola, another player in the party to the Mediterranean country got a 5-3, 4-2 win over Fadipe and followed it with a 4-2, 5-3 win over Jebutu to earn a passage to the next round from the same group.

In group B, Michael Oshewa, who is also in the team to the AJC, was stretched as he recovered from a set down to beat David Amusu 2-4, 4-2, 10-5. He had it easy in the second match as he defeated Kareem Akande 4-1, 4-1 but lost his final round-robin match to Christopher Bolus 5-4, 2-4, 10-8.

Bolus went on to top the group by beating Akande in his second match 4-1, 4-1.

Tomorrow’s matches will be played in the U-14 category with players like Filippo Trombi, Ayomide Collins Ayo Gabriel slugging it out for places in the knockout stage.

Also, the girls’ event will commence with players like Serena Teluwo, Reya Holmes Lolade Holmes, Oyinlomo Quadri and Angel McCleod, all eager to post impressive results.

There is a huge expectation on McCleod, 13, to impress following the scholarship awarded to her for her performance at the qualifiers held in Togo in January.

ITF Lists Eight Nigerians for AJC…As 13-year-old McCleod Bags Scholarship To Morocco

As part of rewards for their outstanding performances at 2015 West & Central Africa Junior Circuit which was concluded over the weekend in Togo, eight Nigerians have been listed by the International Tennis Federation for the Africa Junior Championship scheduled for March in Tunisia.

The players that will be flying Nigeria’s flag at the Mediterranean nation are Martins Abamu, Godsgift Timipre, Ayoola Michael and Michael Oshewa (all boys); while the girls’ team will comprise Adetayo Adetunji, Angel McCleod, Barakat Quadri and Timpre Maxwell.

Nigeria topped the medals table of the tournament that featured nine countries with seven gold, four silver and three bronze medals and the nation’s all-round successful campaign was made more colourful by the month-long training scholarship to Morocco awarded to McCleod due to her eye-catching display in the girl’s 16&under category.

International Tennis Federation

“It’s a plus to Nigerian tennis because McCleod has been a shinning example of how our efforts at re-engineering tennis at the junior level is yielding instant dividends,” Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Engr. Sani Ndanusa said in reaction to the development.

Ndanusa pointed that regular tournaments from NNPC, Chevron, SNEPCO, Midwestern Oil & Gas among others, is giving Nigeria an edge over most other African countries.

The 13-year-old McCleod, who recently moved from her base in Dubai to Lagos, was registered for the 16&under category as a way of fast-tracking her development in the game. She is scheduled to travel to Kenya on Friday for the ITF 18&under Circuit which will serve off on Sunday.

Togo 2015 ITF Circuit 2nd Leg: Eight Nigerian Players Qualify For Semis

After emerging the overall winners of the first leg which was concluded on Wednesday, Nigeria stepped up the gear for what promises to be another memorable campaign in the ongoing 2015 ITF West and Central African Junior Circuit in Togo with no fewer than eight of the countries players bagging passage to the semifinals as the second leg of the tournament served off on Thursday.

In the boy’s 16&under category, Nigeria’s Michael Oshewa recorded a 6-4,6-4 win over Robert Ochili of Benin to book a place in the semifinal where he is joined by his compatriot, Ayoola Michael who overpowered Alitto Charles of Ghana 6-4, 6-1.

Martins Abamu, who lost to Togo’s Anthony Gabdoe in the final on Wednesday of the first leg, returned to winning form as he defeated Amadou Diarra of Mali 6-2, 6-3 while his younger brother, Mathew continued to be the player to beat in the boys 14&U category following his capture of the gold in the first leg as he also earned a place in the last-four by beating Michael Dosso of Benin Republic 6-3, 6-3.

Port Harcourt-based Kodian Academy’s Godsgift Timibra also kept the Nigerian flag high among the nine countries that are featuring in the point-winning tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Abdulahi Balyomo of Cote d’Ivoire.

In the girls’ 16&under, Adetunji Adetayo and Angel McCleod respectively defeated Patricia Nyako of Ghana and Bisola Lassisis of Benin Republic 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2, 6-2 while Barakat Quadri also won against Modinat Dogbe of Togo 6-0, 6-1 in the girls’ 14& under.

Nigeria emerged overall champions of the first leg with four gold and one silver.

Togo 2015 ITF Junior Circuit: Nigeria Clinches Top Place With 4 Gold, 1 Silver

Nigeria have emerged the overall winners of the first phase of the 2015 ITF West and Central Africa Junior Circuit holding in Togo with 4 gold and 1 silver medals.

At the Stade Ominsport, Lome on Wednesday, Nigeria started with a setback as Martins Abamu fell to Togo’s Antione Gbadoe 6-2, 6-3 in the Boy’s 16&U category but Michael Oshewa restored the nation’s pride when he triumphed with a 6-3, 7-5 over Ehaya Isaac of Cote d’Ivoire.

Oshewa’s feat sparked off the winning spirit of the Nigerian players as Mathew Abamu, a junior sibling to Martin, bagged a resounding 6-1, 6-1 win over Sodik Nougbessi of Benin Republic while in the girls’ 16&U Adetayo Adetunji defeated No 1 seed, Joanne Celestine Abommo of Gabon 6-3,6-2. Moments after, Barakat Quadri beat Becoude Karmine of Benin 7-5, 6-4 in the girls’ 14&U final to highlight Nigeria’s dominance at the double-phase tournament which is featuring nine countries.

The final phase is scheduled to start on Thursday with no fewer than eight Nigerian players listed for action.

National junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale said the team is poised for a better haul of medals. He assured that some of the lapses noted in his wards play will be effectively worked on for effective performance of the players.

Nigeria, which had a rigorous five-day close camping in Lagos for the point-earning tournament, is being represented by eleven players, who are featuring in the four categories.

Togo 2015 ITF Junior Circuit: Nigerian Players Clinch Final Places In Three Events

Nigeria’s impressive run at the ongoing ITF West and Central African Circuit in Togo continued on Tuesday with three of its players securing places in the finals of the tournament which is in two categories.
In the boys 16&Under, Martins Abamu recorded a 6-4 7-5 win over Frederick Coulibaly of Benin Republic to set up a final match against Antoine Gbadoe of Togo, who on his part defeated Nigeria’s Godsgift Timibra 7-6, 7-5.

Nigeria will also be competing at the final of the girl’s 16&U as Adetayo Adetunji crushed Marie Ange of Cote d’Ivoire 6-2, 6-2 to set up a clash with Joanne Celestine of Gabon, who narrowly edged Nigeria’s Angel McCleod with 5,7, 6-4, 6-4 win in a match that lasted more than two hours.

The boy’s 14&U team shared similar fate like their colleagues in the 16&U as Michael Oshewa forced the hosts to taste another pill of defeat from a Nigerian as he defeated Togo’s Danielle Goutjinou 6-3, 6-3 but he won’t have the chance of facing his compatriot Ayoola Michael in the final following the latter’s 6-4, 6-3 lost to Ehaya Isaac of Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Engr. Sani Ndanusa in his reaction to the performance of the Nigerian players at the tournament featuring nine countries commended the team for living up to their promises to sustain Nigeria’s top ranking in the tournament.

He assured that adequate support will be given to the junior team stressing that the country’s dominance will translate to the continent’s dominance at senior level in the next few years.

Togo 2015 ITF Junior Circuit: Four Nigerian Players Qualify For Semis

Nigeria made good its promises for a memorable outing as four Nigerian players yesterday booked their places in the semifnal of the ongoing 2015 African Junior Tennis Circuit holding in Lome, Togo.

The four players are Martins Abamu, Godsgift Timibra, Adetayo Adetunji and Angel McCleod.

In the Boys 16&Under, Abamu defeated Mannou Sylvester of Benin Republic 6-2, 6-1 while Timibra defied the crowd to beat Togo’s Sewabu Jacques 6-4, 6-2.

The winning streak of Nigerian players was extended by Adetayo and McCleod who defeated opponents from Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire respectively.

2015 ITF West and Central Africa Junior Championship, Lome, Togo,

National junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale expressed confidence in the players declaring they are unstoppable to clinch the top prize.

‘Our preparation for the championship has really helped the players. They are playing better as the tournament progresses.

Ubale, who predicted that Nigeria will be out for a repeat of their 2014 performance at the ITF tournaments, said the future of Nigerian tennis is getting brighter with promising players rising through the ranks.

ITF West & Central Africa Junior Championship: Nigeria Targets Another Dominant Outing

After their splendid performances which saw them dominate most of the tournaments across the continent last year, Nigerian players will be the cynosure of all eyes as the 2015 ITF West and Central Africa Junior Championship serves off in Lome, Togo from January 9-14.

The eleven-man team, under the tutelage of Mohammed Ubale has been perfecting strategies for yet another impressive outing since the start of the week in Lagos. They are scheduled to depart for the tournament on Thursday.

2015 ITF West and Central Africa Junior Championship, Lome, Togo,

The players are Martins Abamu, Godsgift Timibra, Michael Ayoola, Oshewa Michael Mathew Abamu (all boys) while the girls players are Angel McCleod and Adetayo Adetunji, Oyinlola Quadri, Lolade Holmes, Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) President, Engr. Sani Ndanusa stated that the players were chosen based on the combination of their rankings and performance in 2014.

He disclosed that the mission of the team is to consolidate on Nigeria’s outstanding performance last year.

“We are looking forward to a great tournament in Togo and by extension the whole year ahead because we want to achieve a better result than what we had last year which no doubt ranks as one of our best in recent years. Our target is to raise the bar further by posting a far more impressive result this year,” Ndanusa declared.

Nigeria started last year by dominating the West and Central African Zonal Elimination Championship held in Abuja with 12 of its players bagging the zone’s 20 slots in the African Championship held in Nairobi, Kenya.

More eye-catching performances by Nigerian players were to follow at ITF junior tournaments in Togo and Benin where, among other of his compatriots, youngster, Joseph Imeh launched himself into prominence by winning the boy’s U-18 title in Lome and he reached the final in Cotonou a week later to move up considerably on the ITF junior rankings.