The last eight players in the Men and women’s Singles events at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have emerged.
The R16 matches were decided on Thursday, 22 May, 2025, inside the tennis section of the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Most of the States that made it to the quarterfinals have two representatives either both in the Men’s Singles event or in one each of the Men and Women’s Singles or even both in Women’s Singles alone.
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Christopher Bulus (Ogun), the overwhelming favourite to win the Men’s Singles event of the competition, defeated Godsgift Timibra (Rivers) 4-1, 4-2 and will now play against Chima Michael (Edo), who outmuscled Ikechukwu Iloputa (Delta) in a thrilling 5-3, 5-4(5).
FCT’s Abubakar Yusuf and Lucky Danjuma played some fantastic tennis on Thursday to head into the tough stage of the competition. Abubakar defeated Endurance Ehigiamusoe (Edo), 4-0, 4-2, while Danjuma came back from a set down to beat Ekiti State’s Matthew Abamu 1-4, 4-2, 10-5.
Abubakar will next take on Canice Abua (Rivers), a 4-1, 4-0 winner against John Azi of Delta State while budding tennis sensation, Danjuma, will face David Ekpenyong (Bayelsa), in the quarterfinals after the latter outplayed Toba Rubi (Taraba), 4-0, 4-2.
The other quarterfinal match will see Daniel Adeleye (Ekiti), go head-to-head against former Nigerian number one player, Uche Oparaoji (Bayelsa). While Oparaoji went past Nuhu Uremyang (Taraba) 4-1, 4-2, Adeleye bested Ibrahim Suleiman (Kaduna), 4-1, 4-1 to reach the quarterfinals.
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In the Women’s event, Ogun State’s Ohunene Yakubu was sensational in her match against the experienced Blessing Anuna (FCT) as she won 4-1, 4-2 and will now play against Etoro Bassey (Akwa Ibom) who also defeated Favour Godwin of Nasarawa 4-0, 4-0.
The match between Success Ogunjobi (Ekiti) and Abosede Bamidele (Lagos) ended on a sad note as the Lagos player had to retire due to a shoulder injury. Ogunboji won 4-1, rtd and will face Goodnews Aina of the Team IJA who came from behind to defeat Omolayo Bamidele (Rivers) 0-4, 4-1, 15-13.
Another Akwa Ibom player, Mary Udoffa, defeated Favour Moses (Kaduna) 5-3, 4-0 and will now take on Edo State’s Blessing Omotayo who defeated Ekiti State’s Jesutoyosi Adeusi 4-0, 4-1 in their R16 matchup.
US-based Oyinlomo Quadre (Delta) will have her hands full when she takes fearless Bright Emmanuel (Team IJA) in one of the Women’s Singles quarterfinal matches at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta.
Quadre, Nigeria’s former one national player and Delta State’s last hope of securing a Women’s Singles medal at the ongoing Games, defeated Rebecca Ekpenyong (Bayelsa) 4-1, 4-0, while Emmanuel sent Timipre Maxwell (Rivers) packing with a 4-2, 5-3 win.
All the quarterfinal matches will be played in the morning as the Doubles matches will follow immediately afterwards.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep our readers posted on the latest developments and results from the tennis event of the Sports Festival as it progresses to the semifinal stage.