Two players each from the FCT and Plateau State were the stars of the day as the Adewale Isa Foundation National Junior Tennis Championship ended in Lagos.
Alex Barnabas and Emmanuel Sandaf from Plateau States emerged as the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) in the Boys’ U14 & 12 categories respectively, at the AIF tennis event, going home with a special pack (which included dollar gifts) from the organizers of the event.
Also, Oluwadabira Oluwaseyi from the FCT produced a moment of magic during the competition to reach the final and was adjusted the most outstanding Girls’ U-12 player just as her counterpart from the FCT, Pinky Onyemenam was rewarded as the best newcomer of this year’s event.
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Tiffany Osho was also presented with the Girls’ U-14 MVP award during the colourful closing ceremony in Lagos.
Mofifunoluwa Atilola emerged champion of the tension-soaked Girls’ U-16 final during a well attended final on the centre court of the tennis section at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Atilola who recently returned from a training tour of South Africa, was very clinical in her final match against Precious Ohimai from Edo State, winning 6-1, 6-1 to a loud cheer by the spectators.
The youngster who does not turn 12 until October, was a finalist in the U-14 category at the 2024 edition of the tournament but came out tops in the U-16 category in the 2025 edition.
David Edwards won the Boys’ U-16 title after Marvelous Bolarinwa, his opponent from Abuja, retired in the second set owing to an arm injury he sustained during the match.
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Edwards, younger sibling of former Nigerian number one tennis star, Marylove Edwards, won 6-4, 3-0(rtd).
Girls’ U-12 national champion and pre-tournament favourite, Mabubat Rasaki, survived the onslaught of Oluwaseyi in their final match on Saturday after the Abuja-based player evened out scores in the first set.
Oluwaseyi, who is yet to defeat Rasaki in any competitive match, lost the first set 3-6 and was 0-3 down in the second set before winning six straight games to take the second set 6-3.
The final set, decided by a ten-point match tiebreak, was eventually won by the hard hitting Rasaki with the Oyo State player coasting to a 10-3 win.
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In the other final matches decided on Saturday, Barnabas defeated stadium player, Goodluck Akinfunmiloye 6-3, 7-6(5) in the Boys’ U-14 final while Success Godwin took the Girls’ U-14 title after a 6-0, 6-3 defeat of Osho.
Emmanuel Ogungbe and Kingsley Godwin were inseparable in the Boys’ U-12 final after both taking one set each. The ensuing final set got the spectators on the edges of their seats as both youngsters went the distance.
It was Godwin who had the last laugh, however, taking the tiebreak and winning the match 4-6, 6-3, 14-12.