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.

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.