The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to youth development, talent discovery and national unity through sports as top seed Abua Canice produced a commanding performance to defeat defending champion Emmanuel Michael 6-1, 6-2 and win the men’s singles title at the 47th CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship.
Canice’s emphatic victory came at the grand finale of the tournament held at the the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where the nation’s top-ranked men’s tennis player captured his first-ever CBN Senior Open crown.
The highly anticipated final, delayed briefly by rainfall, saw the tournament’s top seed dominate from start to finish with powerful groundstrokes, precise serving and relentless consistency to dethrone the defending champion in straight sets.
Canice controlled virtually every aspect of the contest, dictating rallies from the baseline and forcing Michael into a string of unforced errors.
His aggressive approach left little opportunity for the defending champion to recover as the match ended in just two sets.
The newly crowned champion enjoyed a flawless campaign throughout the 10-day championship.
In the semifinals, Canice defeated Yusuf Abubakar 6-1, 6-3 to book his place in the final. Earlier in the competition, he overcame rising youngster David Edwards before dispatching 11th seed Sani Musa in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals respectively, completing the tournament without dropping a set.
His dominant run further justified his status as the tournament’s top seed and Nigeria’s leading men’s tennis player.
Speaking after lifting the trophy, an emotional Canice thanked the organisers, sponsors and his support team for standing by him throughout the tournament.
“I just want to give a big shout-out to the organisers, the sponsors and everyone who inspired me. I’m really, really happy. This is my first championship here in Abuja,” he said.
Reflecting on his remarkable run, during which he won every match in straight sets, Canice attributed the success to months of hard work and preparation.
“I really worked hard for this CBN tournament, and it’s showing. Honestly, I am really happy with my performance.”
Describing his triumph over Emmanuel Michael as a career milestone, he added: “It’s a big achievement for me because this is my first championship in Abuja. I want to congratulate myself and my team because they’ve been there throughout this journey.”
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, represented by the acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, said the apex bank’s over four-decade sponsorship of the championship reflects its firm belief in the transformative power of sports.
“For more than four decades, the CBN has stood as a proud sponsor and unwavering supporter of this championship.
“Our commitment stems from a deep belief in the transformative power of sports, particularly tennis, as a platform for discovering talent, shaping character and fostering national unity,” he said.
Cardoso said the tournament has produced several champions who rose from humble beginnings to attain national and international recognition.
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He noted that the CBN’s decision to introduce the Junior Tennis Championship in 2006 has continued to yield results, with several finalists at this year’s championship having graduated from the junior competition.
“Their journey is a testament to the value of continuity, mentorship and investment in youth development,” he stated.
The CBN governor applauded all the athletes for displaying discipline, resilience and sportsmanship throughout the 10-day championship while appreciating the Nigeria Tennis Federation for successfully organising the tournament and the media for promoting tennis across the country.
He congratulated the new champions and encouraged those who fell short not to give up, noting that every setback provides an opportunity for a stronger comeback
