The 47th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis Championship is set to reach its decisive stage today, with the semifinals scheduled for June 19 at the Tennis Courts of Package ‘B’ inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The matches will shape the lineup for tomorrow’s grand finale, as players fight for their place in the tournament’s final showdown.
In the men’s singles, tournament top seed Abua Canice takes on Yusuf Abubakar in the first semifinal. The second semifinal features a clash of title aspirations, with defending champion and the tournament’s number three seed, Emmanuel Micheal, meeting unseeded Jimoh Joseph. There is also a notable storyline away from the courts: number two seed Adeleye Daniel has withdrawn from the event to represent in an international competition in Italy, leaving Nigeria this morning through Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The women’s singles semifinals promise fresh, momentum-driven matchups following dominant performances in earlier rounds. Top seed Mohammed Khadijat, who overpowered Godwin Favour 6-0, 6-1, will now play Ogunjobi Success, after Ogunjobi swept past Udofia Mary 6-2, 6-0. In the other semifinal, number two seed Emmanuel Essien Bright faces number five seed Bassey Etoro.
Wheelchair tennis is also entering the business end of the competition. In the men’s bracket, Ajani Idowu advanced after a tense three-set comeback against Odunuga Pelumi, winning 2-4, 5-4, 10-3. On the women’s side, defending champion Usoh Andrea and top seed Nwaozuzu Chituru are leading a five-player field, with their matches set to take place later today.
Semifinal action extends across both doubles events as well. In the men’s doubles, Abua Canice and Mohammed Musa—rated as the top seeds—headline the draw. They will be joined in the last four by John David and Jimoh Joseph, Akagha Samuel and Uwandu Charles, and the pairing of Micheal Emmanuel and Sylvanus Ajano.
For the women’s doubles, Ogunjobi Success and Mohammed Khadijat, the top seeds, have already secured their semifinal places. Other duos through to the next stage include second seeds Suwa Nenrot and Omotayo Blessing, Udofia Mary and Bamidele Abosede, and the team of Godwin Favour and Kwange Emmanuella.
