The Nigerian team got off to an impeccable start at the African Junior Championship qualifying event for teams in Lome, Togo.
Placed in the same group with Mali, Ghana and Cameroon, Nigeria made a statement performance, soundly defeating her counterparts in all ties played.
In the Boys’ 16 & Under tie against Mali, Nigeria registered a 3-0 victory. Mukhtar Andu put the team on the front foot with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 win over Thiemokodjan Diawara in the 1st singles, while Usman Kushimo delivered an unassailable 2-0 lead with a 6-0, 6-0 mauling of Allasane Maiga. The Malians would get the coup de grâce in the doubles as Matthew Abamu combined with Mukhtar Andu to thrash Thiemokodjan Diawara and Allasane Maiga 6-1, 6-1.
In the Boys’ 14 & Under, the Malians still couldn’t get a sniff off the Nigerian youngsters as they were beaten 3-0.
Suleiman Ibrahim kick-started the onslaught with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Mohammed Ouattara in the 1st singles, and Joseph Maxwell stayed straight on that course with a commanding display to beat Seydou Fall 6-4, 6-1.
The brilliant duo of Suleiman Ibrahim and Ganiyu Mubarak sealed an assuring victory by beating Mohammed Ouattara and Seydou Fall 7-6, 6-3 in the doubles.
It was another clean sweep in the Girls’ 16 & Under, this time, against Ghana. Teen sensation, Marylove Edward provided the good headstart, drubbing Naa Mckorley 6-1, 6-0 in the 1st singles before Rebecca Ekpeyong followed suit with a comfortable 6-4, 6-0 win over Amanua Ankrah in the 2nd singles rubber. Marylove Edwards and Mary Udoffa would then partner to give Nigeria the 3-0 victory after edging Amanua Ankrah and Naa McKorley 7-6, 1-6, 10-6 in the doubles.
In the Girls’ 14 & Under against Cameroon, Iye Onoja narrowly lost to Beracah Atana, who she defeated last week, 7-6, 7-5. However, Oiza Yakubu levelled the tie in the 2nd singles rubber with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Rosaline Akombo. In the doubles, Oiza Yakubu and Iye Onoja sealed a 2-1 victory for Nigeria with a nervy 6-3, 1-6, 10-8 win.
