The 2025 CBN Junior Tennis Championship showcased young talents like Mofi Atilola and Issah Yahaya. Atilola won the girls’ U-14 title and made waves in the U-16 category, while Yahaya earned the boys’ U-14 Most Outstanding Player award. The event continues to underline Nigeria’s potential in nurturing future tennis stars.
Excitement filled the air at the 2025 Central Bank of Nigeria Junior Tennis Championship held at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. Young tennis talents showcased impressive skills, capturing the attention of spectators and insiders alike, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra. This year’s championship unfolded through intense preliminary rounds at the National Stadium, culminating in thrilling finals across various age categories.
In the girls’ U-14 final, Mofi Atilola, the defending champion from Mainland Tennis Club in Lagos, lived up to her top seed status. She soundly defeated Godwin Success 6-1, 6-4, showing dominance early in the match. Atilola helped herself to an early 5-0 lead in the first set, although Success managed to score once. After a tighter second set that saw Success level at 4-4, Atilola’s focused play secured her victory.
Demonstrating her versatility, Atilola was also given a wild card to participate in the girls’ U-16 category. She pulled off a significant upset in the semi-finals, defeating defending champion Gloria Samuel 6-1, 6-4. However, Atilola’s journey ended in the final, where she lost to Ekiti State’s Goodnews Aina, 6-1, 6-3.
Over in the boys’ U-14 final, Issah Yahaya showcased a solid performance against Lagos player Michael Joel. The match had its ups and downs, concluding in Yahaya’s favor with a score of 6-0, 0-6, 10-5, making him the day’s Boys’ Most Outstanding Player. Meanwhile, in the boys’ U-12 category, Ogoniba Excellency from Bayelsa State defeated Ogun State’s Ogungbe Emmanuel by a score of 6-3, 6-4.
The girls’ U-12 final featured a dramatic match where Opuene Karina came from behind to win against Rasaki Mabubat, rallying from a set down to take the match 3-6, 7-5, 10-9. With her impressive performance across two finals and a title to her name, Mofi Atilola earned the title of Girls’ Most Outstanding Player. Both Atilola and Yahaya were recognized for their outstanding contributions with commemorative trophies.
This 2025 edition of the CBN Junior Tennis Championship did more than highlight emerging young talents; it reaffirmed the tournament’s status as a key platform for nurturing champions who could make waves both nationally and internationally. The future seems bright for these young athletes, indicating that Nigeria has much more to offer the sport of tennis.
The 2025 Central Bank of Nigeria Junior Tennis Championship highlighted the remarkable talents of young players, particularly Mofi Atilola and Issah Yahaya. Atilola’s success in both the U-14 and U-16 categories showcased her potential, while Yahaya earned accolades for his impressive U-14 performance. Overall, the tournament solidified its reputation as a breeding ground for future tennis champions, promising a bright future for the sport in Nigeria.
Original Source: punchng.com
