Ganiyu Mubarak in action on Wednesday.
Group stage action got under on Wednesday at the 14th edition of the CBN Junior Championship in Lagos with some top seeds starting on a bright note in the various categories.
Starting with the boys Under-12 split into two groups, top seed, Yohanna Yakubu was made to work hard in his 9-6 victory over Arwal Jaji in Group A. The encounter was a repeat of last year’s Under-10 final also won by Yakubu. Second seed, Seyi Ogunsakin however had no worries seeing off Hussein Ayoola in the best of 9 games, 9-1 to qualify for the second round in Group B.
Elsewhere, from Group A, David Edward beat Isreal Adewusi 9-1 while Mohammed Jubril had to dig deep to dispatch Victor Hemba 9-7 in group B.
Another top seed that made it through was Seun Ogunsakin in the boys Under-14. The 2019 under 12 champion and 1st seed was ruthless against Onyekachi Ogunjiofor winning 9-0 in Group A. The victory is obviously a statement of intention from the highly-rated tennis player. Lucky Danjuma, defeated by Seun in the Under-12 category last year also started brightly against Praise Ikeuba with a 9-6 victory.
From Group B, 2nd seed Mohammed Idris beat John Nubari 9-7 while Precious Ikeuba saw off Henry Aina 9-5.
The top-seeded player in the girls Under-14, Nene Yakubu produced a flawless performance to beat Ndidi Osaji in Group A. Yakubu all-round game has improved since winning the Under-12 category last year. Favour Ameachi seeded 2nd dispatched Fego Ayetuoma 9-5 in Group B.
Other players from the category are Mary Azi and Amarachi Ezeh that defeated Priscilla Terfa and Khadijat Mohammed respectively.
In Group A of the boys Under-16, number 1 seed Gabriel Inyang cruised past Sanni Isiaku, 9-5, while 2nd seed Joshua Maxwell also had an identical result against Silas Issac in Group B. From the same group, 2019 Under-14, champion David Ekpeyong made light work of Filipo Trombi 9-1.
Moses Olamilekan after his loss against Ganiyu Mubarak.
Moses Olamilekan however lost to Ganiyu Mubarak 9-2 in Group A.
Elsewhere, in the girls Under-16, Group B produced the biggest upset of the day when 2nd seed Mary Udoffa was defeated by unseeded Blessing Otu 9-3. However top seed Oiza Yakubu didn’t suffer the same fate as she produced a dominant display to beat Toyin Adeniran 9-1 in Group A.
There was also a victory for last year Under-14 champion, Serena Teluwo who beat Destiny Okhinaye, 9-4 in Group B while Salamatu Haruna saw off Chidinma Ezeh 9-4 in Group A.
FULL RESULTS OF DAY 1
BOYS 12 and Under.
GROUP A
Yohanna Yakubu beat Arwal Jaji 9-6
David Edward beat Isreal Adewusi 9-1
GROUP B
Seyi Ogunsakin beat Hussein Ayoola 9-1
Mohammed Jubril beat Victor Hemba 9-7
Boys 14 and Under
GROUP A
Seun Ogunsakin beat Onyekachi Ogunjiofor 9-0
Lucky Danjuma beat Praise Ikeuba 9-6
GROUP B
Mohammed Idris beat John Nubari 9-7
Precious Ikeuba beat Henry Aina 9-5
Boys 16 and Under
GROUP A
Gabriel Inyang beat Sanni Isiaku 9-5
Ganiyu Mubarak beat Moses Olamilekan 9-2
GROUP B
Joshua Maxwell beat Silas Isaac 9-5
David Ekpenyong beat Filipo Trombi 9-1
Girls 14 and Under
GROUP A
Nene Yakubu beat Ndidi Osaji 9-0
Mary Azi beat Priscilla Terfa 9-3
GROUP B
Favour Amaechi beat Fego Ayetuoma 9-5
Amarachi Ezeh beat Khadijat Mohammed 9-3
Girls 16 and Under
GROUP A
Oiza Yakubu beat Toyin Adeniran 9-1
Salamatu Haruna beat Chidinma Ezeh 9-4
GROUP B
Blessing Out beat Mary Udoffa 9-3
Serena Teluwo beat Destiny Okhinaye 9-4.
Group matches continue on Thursday till Friday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Lagos. Semifinals matches are billed for Saturday while the final is on Sunday.
Photo Credit: Chris Onah
