Two players from the Invited Junior Athletes, IJA team caused unprecedented upsets at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Abuja-based Amir Mohammed stirred the hornet’s nest when he defeated Akwa Ibom’s Akwa Owo Akwa 4-2, 4-1 while Gbolahan Olawale also beat Jeremiah Benjamin of Lagos State.
Benjamin, ranked 33 in the national Men’s Singles rankings, was defeated 2-4, 0-4 by the IJA player who has been consistently one of Nigeria’s top junior players for several years.
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In other results, the top seeded players went on a rampage, winning all their opening matches with easy scorelines, as they prepare for the next round of matches.
US-based David Ekpenyong (Bayelsa) and Christopher Bulus (Ogun), ran riots against Morakinyo Ridwan (Oyo) and Barack Kater (Benue), winning 4-0, 4-0; 4-1, 4-0 respectively. Canice Abua (Rivers) crushed Abdul Mohammed 4-2, 4-2 just as Ikechukwu Iloputa (Delta) won 4-2, 4-2 against Sani Yau (Nasarawa).
Ekiti State’s Daniel Adeleye also did not spare Ayomide Folorunsho from Kwara State, as he won 4-0, 4-0 just as Henry Aina (Ondo) bested Simi Guli (Adamawa) 4-0, 4-1. Yusuf Abubakar (FCT) won one of the matches of the day, beating Ogun State’s Azeez Aleem in a final set match that ended 3-5, 4-2, 10-3.
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Lucky Danjuma (FCT) flexed his muscles against Henry Nwosu from Imo State, with an outstanding 4-0, 4-0 win while Charles Uwandu (Enugu) won 4-, 4-0 against Effiong Ukpeme (Akwa-Ibom).
US-based Oyinlomo Quadre (Delta) was no match for Mary Iorlumun (Benue) as she stormed to a 4-0, 4-0 win while Nigeria’s highest-ranked female tennis on the Junior ITF, Ohunene Yakubu (Ogun) was too strong for Bethel Odoh (Enugu), as she won 4-2, 4-1.
Rebecca Ekpenyong (Bayelsa) beat Kaosarat Adegboyega from Kwara 4-1, 4-0 just as Ekiti State’s Success Ogunjobi beat Afeezat Mustapha (Kwara), 4-0, 4-0 in a quick match.
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Jesutoyosi Adeusi, an Ekiti State player, shocked Oiza Yakubu (Ogun) an America College tennis player, with a straight sets win which ended 4-2, 4-2. Blessing Anuna (FCT), beat Deborah Abiodun (Osun) 5-3, 4-0.
As at the time of filing this report, the remaining matches had yet to be concluded, and as such, the results could not be added.
Nigeria Tennis Live will update our readers with the order of play and the revamped draw ahead of the second phase of matches which starts by 9am on Thursday, 22 May, 2025.