Quadri, Marylove coast to 2018 AJC Qualifiers medals zone

Team Nigeria to the 2018 ITF/CAT West and Central Africa Junior Championship Qualifiers in Togo have continued to impress as four of the country’s players have set up semi-final meetings in the boy’s 16 and under as well as the boys’ 14 and under categories. It means the country is guaranteed a place in the finals of the two categories of the tournament it has emerged as overall winners since 2012.

Fast-rising youngster, Matthew Abamu upsets tournament’s second seed, Paul Wamba of Cameroun 6-3, 6-1 in the quarter-final and the win will now see him battle his compatriot Friday Gabriel in the semi-inal of the boys’ 16 and under. Kaduna-based Gabriel puts up a brilliant display against third seed, Suleiman Ouatarra of Cote d’Ivoire to win 6-2, 6-0.

The same scenario played out in the boys’ 14 and under category as Suleiman Ibrahim saw off Ghana’s Kenneth Adzokadze 7-5, 6-3 to set up a semi-final tie against fellow Nigerian Usman Kushimo, who conquered second-seeded Richard Okine of Ghana.

Nigeria’s highest-ranked junior player, Oyinlomo Quadri eased to a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 win over Frida Houngbo of Benin Republic to move closer to the top prize in the girls’ 16 and under, while in the 14 and under, Marylove Edward dispatched Rodia Noudogbessi of Benin 6-0, 6-0.

It was not all rosy for Nigeria as Oiza Yakubu and Rebecca Ekpeyong failed to cross the quarter-final hurdles. They joined Reya Holmes, Canice Joseph and Iye Onoja who all crashed out at early stage of the 12-nation tournament serving as route to the main tournaments billed for South Africa and Tunisia later in the year.