By Francis Ajuonuma
After several days of stiff competitions packed with heavy volleys, strong serves and scintillating moves, the 2025 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Tennis Championship came to an end on Saturday 3rd of May with Issah Yahaya, Mofi Atilola and Goodnews Aina proving the stuff they are made of to emerge champions.
Competing in the Girls 16 final, Aina recorded two straight sets of 6/1, 6/4 win over Mofi, who in the semifinal had stunned the defending champion, Gloria Samuel from Ekiti state 6/1, 6/4 to give hope to her title dream in the category but failed to reproduce the form against the champion.
The Boys 16 final was well contested game between Seyi Ogunsakin and Olawale Gbolahan but the former had the last laugh after winning the game in two straight set of 6/4, 6/3 to be crowned the 2025 champion. It was the same performance in the Boys 12 final with Ogoniba Excellency dispatching Ogungbe Emmanuel 6/3, 6/4 to smile home with the winner trophy.
After a disappointing defeat in the Girls 16 final, Mofi Atilola made up in the Girls 14 with a resounding victory over Godwin Success, who often found it difficult to cope with firepower of Mofi as the game ended at 6/0, 6/1. It was also a similar performance in the Boys 14 final as Michael Joel was no match for Issah Yahaya, who won the game at 6/0, 6/0, 10/5.
The most keenly contested match of the day was between Opuene Karina and Rasaki Mabubat in the Girls. It was a game that could have gone either side but it was Opuene’s day as she won it by 2-1 sets of 3/6, 7/5, 10/9.
Speaking during the post match interview, Mofi said she was happy to have won the Girls 14 title to make up for her defeat in the Girls 16 final, admitting that she played against better player – Goodnews Aina.
“She (Aina) has a very huge edge against me because she’s older and has power than me which she used to her advantage.
“However, in the Girls 14, I had to bring up my confidence because we are of the same 14, so there was no need being scared. I just have to put my game in there,” the soft spoken Mofi said.
For Aina it was an interesting game and she gave kudos to Mofi for giving her a strong challenge for the title.
“It’s an interesting game and strong challenge from Mofi. She is good player and at times made things difficult for me but I had to use my power to defeat her.
“Up next for me is the coming National Sports Festival. I’m working hard and hopeful I can do well at the festival,” she said.
The Director, International Tennis Academy (ITA) and organiser of the CBN Junior Tennis Championship, Godwin Kienka, expressed his excitement over the performance of players, saying the championship has made a huge progress.
“A lot of progress. We have a boy like Yahaya going from the 14s to the semifinals of the 16s because he was also given the wildcard to play in upward age group and he got to the semifinals and won his own age category – Boys 14. So they are winning their age categories easily and then competing squarely in the higher age categories, so that’s progress,” he said.
Mofi was adjudged the Most Outstanding female player of the Championship, while Yahaya won the male category.
All the finalists received trophy each as well as bags.
