Nigeria’s top-ranked male tennis player, Canice Abua, and rising teenage star Etoro Bassey emerged as the new champions of the prestigious 47th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis Championship after impressive victories in the men’s and women’s singles finals in Abuja.
The championship, which concluded on June 20 at the National Tennis Centre, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, showcased some of Nigeria’s finest tennis talents and underlined the growing strength of the sport in the country.
Abua produced a commanding performance in the men’s singles final, overpowering defending champion Michael Emmanuel in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to secure his maiden CBN Senior Tennis Championship title. The victory marked a significant milestone in the career of the nation’s number one-ranked player, who demonstrated superior consistency and composure throughout the tournament.
In the women’s category, 18-year-old Etoro Bassey delivered one of the standout performances of the championship. The young prospect showed remarkable determination by rallying from a set down to defeat Success Ogunjobi and claim her first senior national title. Her triumph is being viewed as a major breakthrough and a sign of the emergence of a new generation of talent in Nigerian tennis.
The championship attracted leading players from across the country and once again highlighted the importance of sustained investment in both grassroots and elite-level sports development. The tournament remains one of Nigeria’s longest-running and most respected tennis competitions, serving as a key platform for talent discovery and athlete development.
