Canice Abua and Etoro Bassey have been crowned singles champions at the 47th CBN Open Tennis Championship in Abuja, each lifting their first title at the prestigious event. The Central Bank of Nigeria tournament reached its climax at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, rewarding two breakthrough winners.
How the CBN Open Tennis finals were won
Top seed Canice Abua produced a commanding display in the men’s singles final, beating Michael Emmanuel 6-1, 6-2 to claim his maiden CBN Open crown. The women’s final was tighter and more dramatic. Etoro Bassey lost the opening set before storming back to defeat Success Ogunjobi 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, sealing her first title at the championship after a determined comeback in front of the home crowd.
Breakthrough moments
For both players, the wins mark a high point in their careers. Abua justified his top seeding with a clinical run to the trophy, dropping few games in a one-sided final. Bassey showed grit and stamina, turning the women’s decider around after a shaky start. Their victories add fresh names to the honours board of one of Nigeria’s longest-running tennis events.
Action in the doubles
The doubles draws produced their own drama. Abua doubled up on success, teaming with Emmanuel Musa to win the men’s doubles final 6-3, 6-1 against Michael Emmanuel and Sylvanus Ajang. In the women’s doubles, Success Ogunjobi partnered top seed Khadijat Mohammed to edge Etoro Bassey and Favour James in a thrilling three-set contest decided by a deciding match tie-break.
Why the championship matters
Now in its 47th edition, the CBN Open Tennis Championship is one of the most established tournaments on the Nigerian calendar, giving home players a platform to test themselves and rise through the ranks. Events like this are vital for developing talent and keeping competitive tennis alive across the country, from juniors stepping up to seasoned campaigners.
Building Nigerian tennis
Tournaments like the CBN Open play a quiet but important role in the country’s sporting pipeline. They give domestic players competitive match time, ranking points and exposure that can open doors to regional and international events. Corporate backing, in this case from the Central Bank of Nigeria, helps sustain the calendar and rewards the work of players who often train with limited resources. Strong fields and dramatic finals also help draw new fans and young players to the sport. For the new champions, the titles are both a reward and a springboard, and their results will be watched as they aim to convert breakthrough wins into consistent form across the season. Sustained investment in coaching, courts and junior development is what turns one-off champions into a deeper pool of talent capable of representing the country abroad. Organisers and sponsors will be hoping this edition inspires a new wave of young players to take up the game in earnest.
With the trophies handed out, attention now shifts to how the new champions build on their breakthroughs in the season ahead. The 47th CBN Open Tennis Championship delivered fresh faces and memorable finals. Viorah TV will keep covering Nigerian tennis and the players to watch.
