Marylove, Oiza, Iye Zoom Into Quarterfinals As Nigeria Bag Impressive Wins In AJC Qualifiers
Some of the Nigerian players to the ongoing African Junior Tennis Championships (AJC) in Togo have begun the competition in flying colours as many of our players won their matches convincingly.
Team Nigeria had landed in Togo in Sunday afternoon in time to just know their opponents for the openers on Monday morning, and many of them gave good accounts of themselves.
Leading the charge for glory in Togo was US-based Marylove Edwards who gave a good account of herself with outstanding wins, leading to her into the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. She defeated Marestella Teamlaouso from Benin Republic 6-1, 6-0, and awaits her next opponent in the Girls’ U-16 for a place in the semis.
Andu Mukhtar is one of the Nigerian players representing the country at the ongoing AJC qualifiers in Togo.
Mary Udoffa got off to an impressive start during the campaign with a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of Ghana’s Derman Lawrencia but fell short in the second round as she fought hard in her 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 loss to Derman Chakira from Togo. Rebecca Ekpeyong salvaged the day for the girls, though, with a 7-6, 7-5 win over Adjiwannoakekeku from Togo.
In the Girls 14 & Under, Oiza Yakubu, the queen of upsets at the 2018 Rainoil Tennis Open in Lagos made sure that she justified her place in the team as her virtuoso performance ensured that she joined her counterparts in the singles quarterfinal with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Mckoryn Yayra.
Iye Onoja, another fast rising tennis prodigy was quite amazing with her displays in Togo, as the crowd cheered the Nigerian players on. Onoja won her first round match against Cameroon’s Atama Berac in a 6-1, 6-4 game before seeing off Derman Ishane from Togo with a 6-1, 6-1 whitewash.
For the boys U-16, UK-based Andu Muhktar won his first round match but could not cope with the firepower from Cote D’Ivoire’s Micole, losing 0-6, 7-5, 5-7.
Matthew Abamu would however, salvage some points for the Nigerian boys as he rallied to a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over Besiux Leo from Gabon.
Nigeria Tennis Live can report that the players are positive about posting more outstanding performances in the remaining stages of the competition as Nigeria hopes to keep up with the tradition as the most successful country in the tournament.
Our correspondent will continue to bring you up to speed with the latest happenings in the neighbouring West African country.
