Team Nigeria continued their impressive display at the ongoing ITF West & Central Africa 18 & under Circuit in Cotonou, Benin Republic with the duo of Angel Mcleod and Barakat Quadri advancing to the quarterfinals after third round wins on Thursday. The two Nigerians will meet on Friday for a place in the semifinal.
While Quadri, who is making her debut in the 18 & under had an easy passage following a 6-0, 6-2 win over Vania Dozie of Togo, McLeod survived a tough encounter with US-based Manuella Eloundou of Cameroun before bagging a 6-4, 6-4 win.
With over 10 international tournaments under her belt, McLeod is the most experienced of the girls flying Nigeria’s flag and she seemed on course for what looked like an easy match racing to a 4-0 lead in the first set but Eloundou, recovered 4-4 only for McLeod to break her again in the ninth game before closing the set on her serve.
The second set was similar, contrasting though, as Eloundou, whose twins sister, Linda is in the bottom-half of the draws, went 3-0 up but McLeod tied the match before eventually winning 6-4.
“We are doing very well because this is a big tournament with players across the world. The top seed here is ranked number 571 in the world even as a junior player.
Barakat has improved a lot; she’s doing very well and Angel too is on top of her game. They are very young and at this level it’s good for Nigerian tennis,” coach Mohammed Ubale said.
While the quarterfinal pairings assure Nigeria a place in the semifinal, Thursday was not all smooth for Team Nigeria as Michael Osewa, Martin Abamu and Sikiru Alalade all lost their third round matches to exit the Grade 4 hard court tournament holding at the Stade L’amite.
