Nigerian junior tennis player Olorun-Damilola Agunbiade has continued his development journey at the 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship in Abuja, despite a challenging second week that has tested him against strong international opposition.
Key Highlights:
- Olorun-Damilola Agunbiade suffered his second straight defeat at the 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship.
- The 15-year-old lost 3-6, 3-6 to Amir Mohammed in Group D.
- Agunbiade had earlier lost to Jinxuan Cheng in his opening match.
- The tournament features junior players from 14 countries competing in Abuja.
- Despite the losses, the competition is providing valuable international experience for the Nigerian youngster.
The 15-year-old recorded his second consecutive defeat in the boys’ singles Group D on Tuesday, falling 3-6, 3-6 to Amir Mohammed at the Tennis Complex of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
Agunbiade had earlier opened his group campaign on Monday with a 1-6, 0-6 loss to China’s Jinxuan Cheng, leaving him without a win after two matches in the round-robin stage.
Group D also features Amir Mohammed, Jinxuan Cheng of China, and Nigeria’s Nathaniel Aluko. Mohammed has emerged as the frontrunner in the group after also defeating Aluko 7-6(3), 6-1 in his opening match.
Despite the results, the tournament is being viewed as an important exposure platform for Nigeria’s young players, with Agunbiade competing against opponents from established tennis programmes across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
The NASCO/ITF J30 championship, now in its second week, runs until Saturday and brings together junior players from 14 countries, including Nigeria, China, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Sweden, India, and others, at the Abuja National Stadium Tennis Complex.
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Across the boys’ draw, several international players continued to assert dominance in the group stage, including China’s Hengzhi Cui, who delivered another commanding performance, while Nigerian players such as Seyi Ogunsakin also recorded strong straight-set victories in their respective matches.
In the girls’ category, Success Ogunjobi and Gloria Samuel stood out with emphatic 6-0, 6-0 wins, highlighting encouraging performances from the home contingent in selected fixtures.
The tournament follows a round-robin format across eight groups (A to H), with each group consisting of four players. Only group winners will advance to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and final stages.
Although Agunbiade’s results have not yet reflected in wins, the experience of facing higher-ranked and international opponents is expected to contribute to his long-term development as he builds toward future ITF junior competitions.
