Excitement is building in Nigeria’s capital as the 46th edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship is set to take place from July 21 to 26, 2025.
According to The PUNCH, the prestigious tournament will be held at the tennis courts in Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with the qualifiers already underway.
The Acting Director of Corporate Communications at CBN, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, described the championship as a strategic investment in youth development and national unity.
“This tournament continues to serve as a platform for harnessing the talents of young Nigerians.
It offers them the opportunity to channel their energy into something productive and showcase their abilities on a national stage,” she said during a pre-tournament media briefing in Abuja.
Now in its 46th year, the championship is considered Nigeria’s most significant tennis event and has played a key role in the emergence of athletes who have represented the country in major competitions such as the Davis Cup and African Games.
Organized by the Nigeria Tennis Federation in collaboration with the CBN, the annual event aims to identify and nurture future tennis champions. This year’s edition has generated considerable interest from fans and players alike.
Over the years, the competition has produced several notable players including David Imonite, Sunday Maku, Veronica Oyibokia-Iwebema, Christy Agugbom, Sera Adegoke, Sylvester Emmanuel, Imeh Joseph, Oyinlomo Quadri, and Mary-Love Edwards.
This year’s draw features 64 players in the men’s singles category and 32 in the women’s singles, with 32 players also competing in each of the doubles events. The wheelchair tennis division will feature 16 participants each in the men’s and women’s singles.
While the men’s singles are expected to be full of surprises, the women’s competition is anticipated to be a fierce contest between two U.S.-based stars: Oyinlomo Quadri, a former champion of the CBN tournament and National Sports Festival gold medalist, and the reigning champion, Mary-Love Edwards.
Both athletes are alumni of the CBN Junior Tennis Championship and were discovered at different stages of the youth tournament. They have since risen through the ranks, dominating in the senior category and making their mark internationally.
The championship not only provides a competitive arena for seasoned professionals but also remains a key talent-discovery pipeline for Nigerian tennis.
