The Nigerian players currently participating at the African Junior Championships (AJC) in Togo, are giving a good account of themselves.
The youngsters who are in the west African country for the West and Central ITF/CAT event which served off on Saturday, 11 December, have been in impressive form and have deservedly reached the quarterfinal stage of the event.
Chukwudubem Amasiani, Africa’s number three U-14 player is the number one seed in the boys’ U-14 event and was in his characteristic beast mode against Ghana’s Eric Torto, winning 4-1, 4-1 after getting a bye in the first round,
Amasiani is in the quarterfinal where he will play against Mali’s Ousmane Maiga for a spot in the semis today. Seyi Ogunsakin, another top Nigerian junior, got a bye in the first round but was made to fight for his points to reach the quarterfinal.
READ ALSO: Boys’ U-14: Chukwudubem Amasiani Ranked African No. 3 Player
Ogunsakin, seeded three, played against another Ghanaian, Jeff Frimpong, and won 5-4(5), 4-2 to set up a quarterfinal match against Gabriel Agbetognawou, the tournament’s number five seed from Togo.
In the girls’ U-14 event, Emmanuella Kwange and Goodnews Aina are keeping Nigeria’s flag flying. Aina, the tournament’s number two seed, played a difficult match against Peace Ogwo from Benin Republic but did her best to win 2-4, 4-0, 10-7 while Kwange beat Togo’s Akpadja 5-4(3), 4-0.
Aina and Kwange will now play against Lisel Mpah and Naomi Marette from Ghana and Benin Republic respectively for spots in the quarterfinals of the AJC event.
Khadijat Mohammed, the U-16 top seed, had no problem in her opening match, as she outplayed Guinea’s Diaka Tolno 4-0, 4-0 to book a date with Phillipina Sewornu from Ghana in the quarterfinal stage.
Also, Lagos-based Bisola Ogunkolade, who was a last minute introduction to the team, moved at the speed of light, defeating Burkina Faso’s Kuiliga Djawara Zongo in two straight sets and now face-off against Tolissa Ayegnon from Togo in the quarterfinal.
READ ALSO: About 250 Kids Gather In Lagos For Azimuth Junior National Championship
The Nigerian U-16 boys at the AJC have also been quite spectacular, with David Edwards, Onyekachi Ogumjiofor and Gbolahan Olawale, all proving to be hard nuts to crack.
Ogumjiofor beat Burkina Faso’s Lionel Bessebro 5-3, 4-2 before upsetting the tournament’s number two seed, Cedrick Ndinkwa in two straight sets of 4-1, 4-2 to set the tone for an all-round Nigerian win in the U-16 category. He takes on Ghana’s Joseph Attisogbei in the quarterfinal.
To reach the AJC boys’ U-16 quarterfinal, Olawale beat Togo’s Jean Banka 4-0, 4-2; thrashed Guinea’s Mohamed Lamine Camara in the second round and is now set to take on Tiekore Sow from Mali in the quarterfinal.
David Edwards, the third Nigerian U-16 boy at the AJC tournament in Togo, got a bye in the first round, crushed Ghana’s Alormenu 4-1, 5-3 and will now play against Daniel Ekango, the tournament’s number one seed from Cameroon, in the quarterfinal.
Nigeria Tennis Live also gathered that the Boys’ and Girls’ U-14 teams have reached the quarterfinal of the Doubles event as nine players reached the quarterfinals of the AJC.
The semifinal matches will also be played after the quarterfinal matches today ahead of tomorrow’s final where the actual winners of the event will be determined.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep our readers updated on activities from the AJC competition in Togo as Nigeria seeks to win all the events they are participating in.