Action continued in the boys and girls singles category at the National Youth Games in Ilorin on Friday, with David Ekpeyong of Akwa Ibom and Kogi State’s Canice Abua among those who reached the semifinals in the boys event.
Ekpeyong had stunned top seed, Suleiman Ibrahim of FCT in three sets to move into the semis, while Canice Abua eased past 2nd seed, Daniel Adeleye of Ekiti 6-4, 6-3 to also make progress.
In another quarterfinal encounter, Mubarak Ganiyu of Oyo, who’s seeded 3rd, produced a solid performance to claim a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 victory over Seun Ogunshakin of Ekiti. Ganiyu, who now holds a 3-2 head-to-head lead over Ogunshakin, will take on Ekpeyong for a place in the final.
The 16th-seeded Abua, meanwhile, will look to book a spot in the final, when he squares off against Jimoh Taofeek of Bayelsa, who beat Joshua Maxwell of Rivers 7-5, 6-2.
In the girls’ singles category, Mary Udoffa of Akwa Ibom made it to the semifinals, following a fine 6-2, 6-3 victory over Favour Abengowe of Enugu State. Udoffa will next take on Destiny Okhinaye of Lagos, who dismissed Ekiti’s Faith Adeusi 6-0, 6-2.
Elsewhere, 2nd seed, Esther Oni of Ekiti and 3rd seed, Imole Afolabi of Oyo will do battle in the semi-finals, after the former secured a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Olamide Aluko of Delta in the quarterfinals, and Afolabi defeating Oluwanifemi Lagundoye of Ondo 6-3 6-2.
Semi-final action will take place on Saturday, with the losing States claiming Bronze.
RESULTS
Boys’ singles
3rd Round:
Joshua Maxwell(Rivers) bt Gabriel Inyang(Akwa Ibom) 4-1, 5-4(4)
Jimoh Taofeek(Bayelsa) bt. Uchenna Obisike(Imo) (2)4-5, 5-4(3), 4-0
Canice Abua(Kogi) bt. Akinmusire Olayemi(Oyo) 3-5, 4-1, 4-2
Daniel Adeleye(Ekiti) bt. Ikenna Okonkwo(Delta) 4-2, 4-2
Quarterfinal:
David Ekpeyong(Akwa Ibom) bt. Suleiman Ibrahim(FCT) 6-3, 6-2, 10-8
Mubarak Ganiyu(Oyo) bt. Seun Ogunsakin(Ekiti) 6-3, 6-3
Jimoh Taofeek(Bayelsa) bt. Joshua Maxwell(Rivers) 7-5, 6-2
Kannis Abuwa(Kogi) bt. Daniel Adeleye(Ekiti) 6-4, 6-3
Semifinal:
David Ekpeyong(Akwa Ibom) vs Mubarak Ganiyu(Oyo)
Jimoh Taofeek(Bayelsa) vs Canice Abua(Kogi)
Girls’ singles
3rd Round:
Destiny Okhinaye(Lagos) bt. Fatimat Wuruola(Kwara) 4-0, 4-1
Faith Adeusi(Ekiti) bt. Favour Ijaola(Ogun) 4-2, 4-1
Imole Afolabi(Oyo) bt. Esther Ehimebe(Edo) 4-2, 4-1
Oluwanifemi Lagundoye(Ondo) bt. Joyce Nanklin(Bauchi) 4-0, 4-0
Olamide Aluko(Delta) bt. Niniola Ajulo(Oyo) 4-1, 4-1
Esther Oni(Ekiti) bt. Faith Ameh(Delta) 4-2, 4-1
Quarterfinal:
Mary Udoffa(Akwa Ibom) bt. Favour Abengowe(Enugu) 6-2, 6-3
Destiny Okhinaye(Lagos) bt. Faith Adeusi(Ekiti)
6-0, 6-2
Imole Afolabi(Oyo) bt. Oluwanifemi Lagundoye(Ondo) 6-3, 6-2
Esther Oni(Ekiti) bt. Olamide Aluko(Delta) 6-2, 6-1
Semifinal
Mary Udoffa(Akwa Ibom) vs Destiny Okhinaye(Lagos)
Imole Afolabi(Oyo) vs Esther Oni(Ekiti)