Top seeds Joshua Maxwell, Seyi Ogunsakin, and Mary Udoffa on Saturday qualified for the final of the CBN Junior Championship going on at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club

The three alongside seven others will feature at the Grand Finale of the week-long tournament on Sunday.

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2nd seed Joshua Maxwell in action against Ganiyu Mubarak.

2nd seed Joshua Maxwell facing Ganiyu Mubarak in the Boys 16 semifinals, won 9-5 to set up a final meeting with David Ekpenyong who dispatched Moses Olamilekan in a 9-1 comfortable victory. It is the second time both players will faceoff at the tournament. A group stage victory over Maxwell on Friday ensured that Ekpenyong finished top of his group.

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Blessing Otu hits a backhand while facing Salamatu Haruna on Saturday.

In the battle of the two top seeds from the Girls 16 and Under, number 2 seed, Mary Udoffa made light work of Top seed Oiza Yakubu. Yakubu came into the match with a 100 percent record from the group stage but quickly fizzled out under the dominance of Udoffa who won 9-1. Up next for her in the final is Blessing Otu that had to dig deep in her win 9-7 victory of Salamatu Haruna. Otu and Udoffa had earlier met at the group stage with the former winning 9-3.

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Mary Udoffa races to hit a forehand during her semifinal meeting against Oiza Yakubu on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the top seed from the Boys 12 and Under, Seyi Ogunsakin is on course to win the title as he beat Arwal Jaji to reach the final against David Edwards on Sunday. Ogunsakin won 9-4, his 4th victory of the tournament, while Edwards eased in with a 9-3 win of Mohammed Jubril.

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Seyi Ogunsakin serving during his semifinal match against Arwal Jaji.

Also, the other half of the Ogunsakins, Seun followed in the footsteps of his junior by reaching the final of the Boys 14 and Under. The 2019 Boys 12 and Under champion and top seed didn’t have much to do in the 9-4 win of John Nubari. Waiting for Seun Ogunsakin in the final is Mohammed Idris who defeated Lucky Danjuma 9-5.

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Top seed, Seun Ogunsakin prepares for John Nubari’s serve.

From the Girls 14 and Under, top seed Nene Yakubu has a final date with Amarachi Ezeh. Ezeh after beating 2nd seed Favour Ameachi in the group stage continued her brilliant display with another comfortable 9-3 victory over Mary Azi, while Yakubu defeated Khadijat Mohammed 9-1 also on Saturday.

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Nene Yakubu has a date with Amarachi Ezeh in the final.

With the players confirmed for the final, all is now set for Sunday’s Grand Finale of the 14th CBN Junior Championship at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. The tournament, organized by the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the International Tennis Academy (ITA) is the first in the ITA’s circuit for 2020.

 

FULL RESULTS OF SEMIFINAL MATCHES

Boys 12 and Under

David Edwards bt. Mohammed Jubril 9-3

Seyi Ogunsakin bt. Arwal Jaji 9-1

 

Boys 14 and Under

Seun Ogunsakin bt. John Nubari 9-4

Mohammed Idris bt. Lucky Danjuma 9-5

 

Boys 16 and Under

Joshua Maxwell bt. Ganiyu Mubarak 9-5

David Ekpenyong bt. Moses Olamilekan 9-1

 

Girls 14 and Under

Nene Yakubu bt. Khadijat Mohammed 9-1

Amarachi Ezeh bt. Mary Azi 9-3

 

Girls 16 and Under

Mary Udoffa bt. Oiza Yakubu 9-1

Blessing Otu bt. Salamatu Haruna 9-7

 

FINAL FIXTURES

Boys 12 and Under

Seyi Ogunsakin vs David Edwards

Boys 14 and Under

Seun Ogunsakin vs Mohammed Idris

Boys 16 and Under

Joshua Maxwell vs David Ekpenyong

Girls 14 and Under

Nene Yakubu vs Amarachi Ezeh

Girls 16 and Under

Mary Udoffa vs Blessing Otu