By Aderonke Ojediran & Daniel Akinte
Double champion at the just-ended 2025 Prime Atlantic Squash Open has shattered history book after winning both the junior and senior category of the annual tournament ahead of more experienced senior players.
Squash as a game of speed, stamina and strategy, demands mental toughness and a relentless drive for excellence.
Played in a confined court where agility and quick decision-making are everything, it tests the very limits of a player’s physical and emotional endurance.
In this sport where composure meets combat, expectations from players’ especially emerging talents are high.
They are expected to master control under pressure, develop unshakable discipline, and above all, deliver consistent performances.
At just 16 years old, Yusuf Quadri has not only embraced, embodied these demands but also redefined them with a history making performance at the fourth edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The junior player stunned the squash community by winning both the U-19 and Senior Men’s categories an unprecedented feat in the tournament’s history and one that places his name alongside the legends of the sport.
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His dominance over older, more experienced players did not come by chance; it must have been as a result of discipline, courage and a maturity rare for his age.
The young prodigy’s rise evokes memories of global squash icons like Pakistan’s Jahangir Khan, who reigned supreme in the 1980s with a record-breaking unbeaten run.
On the Nigerian front, he draws comparisons with former champions like, Wasiu Sanni, Gbenga Adeyi and Onaopemipo Adegoke (Onos) players whose names echo through the annals of Nigerian squash history.
Yet even among such illustrious company, Quadri’s achievement stands out.
According to his coach, Sanni Kabri (Coach Eba), the teenager has transformed from a fiery, sometimes temperamental player into one who now embodies the grace and discipline the game demands.
“He listens, learns, and shows the hunger of a true champion. His growth, both on and off the court, is remarkable,” Kabri said.
What set Quadri apart is not just his technical ability but the confidence and maturity with which he handles big matches.
In the senior men’s final, he stayed composed against seasoned opponent Faruq Suliamon, moving with calculated precision, countering every shot with fierce determination.
If properly supported and exposed to global training circuits, Quadri could emerge as West Africa’s first genuine contender for a top 50 global squash ranking.
With youthfulness on his side, and a hunger that continues to show with every serve and rally, the future appears wide open.
History maker
After the completion of the Prime Atlantic Squash Open 2025 at Teslim Balogun, Surulere, Lagos, the Lagos State’s junior player said he’s ready to compete at the international level.
Even though Yusuf sat out the previous tournament, this outstanding performance means a great deal to him, highlighting his talent and potential despite his absence from the earlier competition.
“My career, my dream is not just to end in Nigeria. It’s to at least challenge internationally. Last year I didn’t play this tournament. Winning a double this year is a fantastic thing to me,” he said.
Also, Yusuf credited his outstanding performance in both finals to his mentor’s crucial advice.
“I derived my motivation from my mention that is not in Nigeria presently. When I qualified for the finals of both the U19 and the senior events, I spoke with him and he told me; ‘I just need you to put your best. If you win the junior, then hopefully, I expect you to win the senior too.”
