By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Canice Abua and Etoro Mfonobong Bassey announced themselves as Nigeria’s newest national tennis champions after claiming the men’s and women’s singles titles at the 47th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior National Open Tennis Championship in Abuja.
Top seed Abua produced a dominant display in the men’s final, brushing aside defending champion Michael Emmanuel 6-1, 6-2 to lift his maiden CBN Open trophy at the National Tennis Centre, Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
Unfazed by a brief rain delay, the Davis Cup star controlled proceedings from start to finish with composed and aggressive tennis.
For Abua, the triumph was a significant milestone in his career.
“It’s my first championship in Abuja and I feel so happy,” he said after the victory. “It’s a big achievement in my tennis career.”
The new champion also expressed confidence in the direction of Nigerian tennis, praising the efforts of the Nigeria Tennis Federation’s leadership.
“Of course Nigerian tennis is rising. I think the president and the new board are doing a very good job by hosting tournaments like this and preparing us for the competitions ahead, including the Davis Cup ties coming up later this year,” he added.
In the women’s singles final, Etoro Bassey showed remarkable resilience to overturn a first-set deficit and defeat Success Ogunjobi 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, securing her first CBN Open title.
Bassey acknowledged the challenge posed by her opponent, describing the encounter as one between familiar rivals.
“She’s a good player and we’ve played each other several times. Our matches are always competitive. She has a strong backhand and a very good volley, so I knew I had to stay focused throughout,” she said.
Although Ogunjobi fell short in the singles final, she bounced back impressively to win the women’s doubles title alongside top seed Khadijat Mohammed.
The pair edged Etoro Bassey and Favour James 6-2, 6-7(2), 10-6 in an entertaining championship match.
The tournament also celebrated excellence in wheelchair tennis.
Andrea Usoh captured her maiden women’s wheelchair singles title after a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Chituru Nwazuzu, ending a decade-long wait for CBN Open success.
Alex Adewale successfully defended his men’s wheelchair singles crown with an equally dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Rasaq Bankole.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on behalf of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Head of Corporate Communications Hakama Sidi Ali reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment to sports development, describing tennis as a powerful platform for discovering talent, shaping character and promoting national unity.
She noted that the CBN’s investment in grassroots tennis, including the Junior Tennis Championship launched in 2006, continues to produce players who progress to the senior ranks.
She also praised the professionalism of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, commended the media for promoting the sport and encouraged both champions and defeated players to keep striving for excellence.
With a total prize purse of ₦13.1 million across multiple categories, the 47th CBN Senior National Open Tennis Championship once again underscored its status as one of Nigeria’s premier tennis events, showcasing emerging and established stars while strengthening the pathway for the country’s next generation of champions.
