Marylove Edward, Thursday, produced a stunning
performance by beating Koumba Niangadou to
clinch gold medal at the 14 and under of the 2018
ITF/CAT West and Central African Qualifiers
holding in Togo.
The youngster, who joined the Nick Bolleteri
Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida last
September, justified her status as the prime seed
as she coasted to an easy 6-1, 6-0 win against
her Malian opponent. The win is expected to
spark what promises a great year ahead for the
tennis prodigy , who, at 12, became the youngest
player in Nigeria’s tennis history to reach the final
of an open tournament as she was the runner up
in the 2017 CBN Open in Lagos.
In the boys’ 14 and under, Usman Kushimo
followed the footstep of Edward, as he defeated
Mariano Kpodeziaou of Benin Republic 6-4, 6-3 to
make it a double for Nigeria in the category.
The heroics of the duo, ensured Nigeria shot to
the summit of the medals’ table at the expense of
Cote d’Ivoire, fast emerging as the major threat
to Nigeria’ s dominance of the annual regional
championship.
The Francophone nation, who ran neck-and-neck
with Nigeria last year, showed why they remain
the biggest threat to Nigeria’s quest to a
successful defense of the title as its star player
and top seed, Eliakim Coulibaly, proved too
handful for Nigeria’s Gabriel Friday in the boys’
16 and under final decided at the Stade
Omnisports, Lome.
Nigeria also had to settle for less in the girls’ 16
and under as Oyinlomo Quadri, who won gold last
year had to settle for bronze after fending off the
challenge of Serena Geli of Togo.
Nigeria is leading the 12-nation tournament with
2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, and will need to bag
a handful of medals in the doubles events starting
Friday if they are to win the tournament for a
record-extending seven straight year.
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