ITF/CAT 12&under tennis: Nigeria in shaky start, lose to Ghana

It was a mixed feelings for Team Nigeria on Tuesday, in Lagos with the hosts being beaten by Ghana on the opening day of the first ITF/CAT 12&under West and Central Africa Teams' Championship.

Nigeria, undisputed superpower of CAT Zone 2  were stunned by their Ghanaian counterparts who won their two boy's singles matches on the day.

Amos Appau puts Ghana ahead in the boys' singles when he silenced home boy Fortune Joseph 6-4, 6-2. Joseph, who came in as a last-minute replacement for Daniel Adeleye from Ekiti state,
who is Nigeria's number one.

Adeleye was declared ineligible after the screening by ITF Development Officer, Amine Ben
Machlouf from Morocco.
 
Another home boy, David Ekpeyong lost 4-6, 6-7 to Lameck Bukari, leaving the boy's team with a mountain to climb following the change in format of the competition to round-robin owing to the low number of participating nations.

Iye Onoja and Oiza Yakubu restored Nigeria's pride with victories over Lawrencia Manu and
Shika Mckorley in the girls' singles. Onoja won 6-4, 6-3, while Yakubu posted 6-4, 6-0 win.

In the girl's doubles, Serena Teluwo paired Yakubu to beat Manu and Mckorley 6-1, 2-6, 12-10, while in the boy's doubles, Gabriel Inyang and Fortune fell 6-4, 6-1 to Appau and Bukari to highlight a disappointing day for the hosts.
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Caption:
Serena Teluwo, had a fine start in the girls' doubles.