Reports from Lomé, Togo have confirmed that the Nigerian U-14 boys have progressed to the knockout stage of the team event after an impressive run of form at the competition.
Their results just x-ray the Nigerian contingent’s general performance at the qualifying series which is contested by no fewer than five other countries.
Ganiyu Mubarak and Idris Mohammed have been exceptional all week long, and were still phenomenal in their second round of matches as they dismantled their Ivorian opponents in three straight games.
Mubarak won Koffi Nda 6-3, 6-3 while Mohammed crushed Angel Gamaliel 6-3, 6-1 before the Nigerians partnered to defeat Kouadja and Koffi 7-5, 6-1 in the doubles.
Marylove Edwards and Oiza Yakubu also continued with their ingenious displays in Togo, as they’re yet to drop a set in the team event so far.
While Edwards won in two straight sets of 6-1, 6-0 against Ishane Derma of Togo, Yakubu was responsible for the defeat of Kekeli Adjiwanou, winning 6-2, 6-2.
In their doubles match, the Nigerian pair of Rebecca Ekpeyong and Edwards matched Togo’s Adjiwanou and Ishane, handing them a crushing defeat.
The U-16 boys were in a fine form in their matches as well, as they raced to a 2-1 win over Ghana.
Canice Abua defeated Richard Okine 6-3, 7-5 while Suleiman Ibrahim won Desmond Ayaba 6-1, 6-4 before partnering David Dawariye to lose to the Ghanaian pair of Okine and Dowuona in a final set thriller. The Nigerians lost 6-7, 6-2, 10-7.
The U-14 girls won their first match of the series, but still lost the team event to Benin Republic in a 1-2 game.
Overall, team Nigeria has performed excellently in Lomé, and will be hoping to maintain this run of time till the end of the competition.
According to Coach Abel Ubiebi who’s the team’s technical lead, “The girls 16 have 5 matches to play and performance determines the winner who wil qualify.
“The boys 14 have qualified in their group to the knock out stage though tomorrow’s (today’s) match will determine who is 1st in the group, this also applies to the boys 16.
“Our girls 14 have a tight rope to climb having lost two matches.”
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep monitoring the situation in Lomé and report to our expectant followers, readers.