Nigerian players made a huge mark in the ongoing ITF/CAT African Junior 18& Under Championship holding in Tunis, Tunisia as Angel McLeod and Andiyo Inwang, a debutant German-Nigeria recording wins in their last round of matches at the week-long tournament.
McLeod, 16, made up for the disappointment of her semifinal exit at the last West and Central Africa Junior qualifiers as she defeated Fatoumata Kaita 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 to enhance her rating.
With this result, McLeod, who went on a two-week intensive training under the supervision of national junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale in Kaduna ahead of the tournament, will now be in the top 800.
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| Angel McCleod in action at the ongoing tournament in Tunisia |
The ongoing championship is an ITF Grade B tournament which is the highest ranked 18&under in Africa.
Ubale, while speaking from Tunisia expressed delight in McLoed’s display which he posited, is a bit better than her performance at the AJC qualifiers in Abuja last month where she won a gold medal in the 16&under doubles to help Nigeria retain regional the title.
On Inwang, who is born of a Nigerian father and a German mum, Ubale said her dominant display against Kgositsile Leon of Botswana in a 6-1, 6-0 win will be a big plus for women tennis in Nigeria.
He said: “Players from the Southern African region have always been among the best players but for her to record such an impressive win against an opponent from Botswana shows that she will be one of the best in this category.
“Remember she is not yet 17 so by the time she comes here again, she would definitely be among the favourites.”