Teenage tennis prodigy, Oyinlomo Quadri will spearhead Nigeria’s onslaught at the 40th ITF/CAT African Junior Closed Championships serving off on February 6 to 11 in Tunis.
Quadre, who dominated the U-14 girls’ event at the just concluded ITF/CAT West and Central African Junior Championship tournament in Lome, Togo will join her compatriots – Adetayo Adetunji and Andiyo Inwang in the tournament which has over 50 players competing.
According to national junior coach, Mohammed Ubale, the tournament is aimed at exposing the likes of Quadre to top class tournament in readiness for the main AJC in South Africa come March.
“This is an U-18 tournament and we believe if the likes of Oyinlomo Quadre can compete against some of the best players in Africa, she can gain confidence in readiness for the AJC. Apart from Oyinlomno, Adetunji and Inwang are based outside Nigeria and they will team up with the team in Tunisia for the championship. We are going with these three players and hoping that they can use to improve their ranking just like Oyinlomo is now the highest ranked Nigeria tennis player in any category. I am sure this is another avenue for them to prove themselves against their counterparts in Africa,” Ubale said.
The tactician who guided the Nigeria 12-man contingent to dominate the AJC qualifiers in Togo lauded the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) for their continued support which he said has made it possible for the junior players to attend more tournaments within the continent while hoping that individuals and corporate bodies will support the sport.