5th April, 2015
Team Nigeria once again proved their superiority in West and Central African tennis by winning seven gold and one bronze medal to emerge the overall winners of the ITF/CAT U-16 Championship which was concluded at the weekend in Togo.
Oyinlomo Quadri was the star player of the double-phased tournament as she upset three highly rated opponents en route her winning the U-14 girls’ singles.
She accounted for the exit of the number one seed, Kaita Aishata of Mali 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinal before capping a glorious outing with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Carmene Kpadonou of Benin in Saturday’s final at the Stade Omnisports, Lome.
Although Quardi could still play in the U-12, she was registered for the U-14 in order to garner more points which would aid her featuring in the African Junior Championship Masters billed for Morocco later in the year.
Nigeria’s great showing at the weeklong tournament which featured five countries was highlighted by the country’s winning of the boys’ and girls’ U-12 where Mathew Abamu and Toyin Asogba respectively defeated Suleiman Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire and Patricia Wamba of Cameroon 6-2, 6-1 and 6-3,3-6, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will also be seeking glory as the ITF/CAT U18 Championship serves off in Cairo, Egypt on Monday with Russian-born Melissa Ifidzhen highlighting a strong Team Nigeria.
The 16-year-old former Russian U-12 champion will be making her debut for Nigeria at the tournament which will have more than 20 countries in attendance.
Other members of the team are Elizabeth Garos-Pam, who arrived Cairo alongside her dad from her London base on Friday. South African- based Adetayo Adetunji, Angel Macloed and Sunday Emmanuel complete the team to be led by coach Mohammed Ubale.