Fresh winners were crowned across every singles division as the 47th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis Championship wrapped up in Abuja over the weekend, marking a notable shift in momentum within Nigerian tennis.
New singles champions emerge
Eighteen-year-old Etoro Bassey captured the women’s singles championship on her debut at the event, overcoming two-time ITF Junior champion Success Ogunjobi 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 in a thrilling final. After dropping the opening set, Bassey responded brilliantly by sweeping the second set without losing a game, before taking control of the deciding set.
The Akwa Ibom teenager said the intensity of the final helped her steady her game. “She gave me a tough time, especially because my backhand wasn’t working well at the beginning. That made me stronger and I knew I had to accept the challenge and keep fighting,” Bassey said. She also dedicated the title to her father and the coaches at Jeans Tennis Academy.
In the men’s singles, top-ranked Nigerian player Abua Canice—who entered as the tournament’s top seed—ended his wait for a CBN title with a dominant performance against defending champion Michael Akpan Emmanuel. Canice won 6-1, 6-2, describing his success as a reward for perseverance. “As far as tennis is concerned, this is just the beginning of my reign,” he said, before adding that his next focus would be Nigeria’s Davis Cup qualifier against Morocco.
Closing ceremony and doubles success
At the closing ceremony, Acting Director of Corporate Communications Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali represented CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso. She praised the competitors and reiterated the bank’s dedication to strengthening youth development through sports. Cardoso also pledged continued sponsorship of the championship in the wider interest of the country.
New champions were also crowned in the doubles categories. In the men’s doubles, Canice teamed up with Mohammed Musa to beat the partnership of Akpan Emmanuel and Sylvanus Ajano. In the women’s doubles, Khadijat Mohammed and Success Ogunjobi overcame Etoro Bassey and Favour James 6-2, 6-7(2), 10-6 to secure the title.
Wheelchair events concluded with champions defending their places: Adewale Alex and Usoh Andrea retained their respective men’s and women’s singles crowns.
