The boys U16 team, comprising Canice Abua, Suleiman Ibrahim and David Dawariye, have secured qualification to the African Junior Championships Finals, following a superb 3-0 victory over host nation, Togo, on Monday.
Canice Abua kept up the impressive form in the Boys 16 & Under category with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Isaac Kpadio in the first singles rubber before David Dawariye thrashed Jeff Sodji 6-1, 6-0 in the second singles. Dawariye would combine brilliantly with Suleiman Ibrahim to outclass Sedoji and Dogbefu 6-0, 6-0 and claim Gold, sealing their place in the African Junior Championships Finals slated for March 2020 in South Africa.
While the Boys U16 team claimed Gold in their category, the Under-14 Boys secured Silver after finishing second in the category behind Ghana. Despite not securing qualification, the boys ended their campaign on a fine note, following a 3-0 victory over Benin. Mubarak Ganiyu registered a comprehensive 6-1, 6-0 win over Beni Gandonu, while Idris Mohammed took out Precious Because 6-3, 6-2. Mohammed then teamed up with Ganiyu in the doubles rubber to outlast the pair of Becoude and Paul Nda 6-1, 2-6, 10-7.
Elsewhere, the Girls U14 team defeated Sierra Leone 3-0 and still have one more match to go. Serena Teluwo made the best start with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Mariama Kamara in the first singles rubber before Salamatu Haruna powered past Sarah Bangurah 6-2, 6-1. It was another impressive showing in the doubles rubber, as Teluwo and Haruna combined effectively to dismiss Kamara and Tatu Conteh 6-2, 6-0. They will face Ghana in their final tie on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the girls U16 team suffered their first loss so far in their category. The girls were beaten 3-0 by Cameroon, with Marylove Edwards losing to Fanyi Tadfany 7-6, 6-0 in the first singles rubber before Oiza Yakubu came up short against Charnelle Fozo 6-3, 6-1. The duo of Edwards and Rebecca Ekpenyong lost 7-6, 7-5 to Tadfany and Fozo in the doubles rubber.
The girls will take on Cote d’Ivoire in their final tie on Tuesday.
Only one team each per age group and per gender will qualify for the African Junior Championship Finals, which will take place in South Africa, in March.
