ITF/AJC: Nigeria Lists 32 Players For Camping …. As Quadri Arrives From Morocco

Host Nigeria has listed 32 players for camping ahead of the 2016 ITF-Africa Junior Championship Zonal Qualifying Championship billed for 9th-17th of January, 2016 in Abuja.

Nigeria junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale disclosed that the camping will hold from January 2nd-8th after which the final list of 24 players will be selected for the championship which will feature 12&U, 14&U and 16&U categories.

Ubale revealed that Christopher Itodo, Chris Bulus, Michael Oshewa, Matthew Abamu, Angel McLeod, Adetayo Adetunji (South Africa), Oyinlomo Quadri are some of the players that are penciled down for camping stating that the players were chosen based on the combination of their rankings and performance in the outgoing year-2015.

He stated that the mission of the team is to consolidate on Nigeria’s outstanding performance last year ahead of the main championship billed for South Africa later in 2016.

“We are looking forward to a good championship as usual because we have produced the highest number of talents in the west and central African region in the last few years and through the support of the Nigeria Tennis Federation we are set to go and do Nigeria proud once again,” Ubale said.

Nigeria has been the superpower of the 14-country zone following its winning of the last two editions of the zonal qualifiers held in 2014 in Abuja and 2015 in Lome, Togo.

Angel Mcleod

Meanwhile Nigeria’s tennis sensation, Oyinlomo Quardri arrived Nigeria on Tuesday to boost the country’s medal hope at the tournament which, among other countries, will feature Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali and Gabon.

Quadri, 13, is the undisputed best player in the Girls’ 14&under category in West and Central Africa zone, a feat that earned her a one year ITF scholarship to Morocco. Her consistency throughout the year also earned her invitation to the Top 8 ITF Africa Junior Masters in Casablanca, Morocco in October where she reached the quarterfinal.

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.