Nigeria leads in ITF/CAT tourney in Togo

• Russian-born Melissa lands in Egypt

Nigeria’s dominance of junior tennis in the West and Central Africa Zone continued yesterday (Wednesday) as the country won three gold medals in the on-going ITF/CAT U-14 and U-16 Championship at the Stade Ominsports in Lome, Togo. Oyinlomo Quadri, who is the zone’s top ranked player in the girls’ U-12, justified her rating by beating
Dotsie Vania of Togo 6-3, 6-1 in the final, while Mathew Abamu edged Sadiq Noudgbessi of Benin Republic 6-3, 4-6, 7 -6 (4) in the boys’ U-12 to win Nigeria’s second gold of the day.

The icing on the cake for Nigeria, who is led by coach Abel Ubiebi, came when Quadri paired Toyin Asogba, a debutant for Nigeria at international level, to beat the combination of Cameroun’s Wamba Patricia and Dotse Vania of Cote d’Ivoire 6-2, 6-2 in the girls U-12 doubles of the two-phased tournament featuring six countries namely Nigeria, Togo Benin, Mali Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroun.
Meanwhile, Melissa Ifidzhen, the Russian-born Nigerian tennis star becomes the first player to arrive for the ITF/CAT U-18 Championship holding from April 6 to 10 in Cairo, Egypt. Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, confirmed the 16-year-old star- prospects arrival for the tournament which will be featuring over 80 participants from over 20 countries across Africa.

“Melissa’s dad just called to inform me that he is now in Cairo with his daughter. This is the first time she will be coming to Africa to play and her early arrival is for her to acclimatise. I spoke with her and she is eager to make a very good outing in her first outing as a Nigerian,” Ndanusa stated.