CBN TENNIS TITLE 2026: Canice Emerges Champion of Senior Open Tennis Championship
Oru Leonard
In the 47th Edition of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), sustained legacy of youth development, Nigeria’s top-ranked tennis player, Abua Canice, emerged champion of Senior Open Tennis Championship of after a commanding victory over defending champion Emmanuel Michael in the men’s singles final held in Abuja.
Canice produced a dominant display at the Tennis Complex of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, defeating Michael 6-1, 6-2 to win his first-ever CBN Senior Open title. The tournament’s top seed controlled the contest from the outset, overcoming a brief weather interruption to complete a flawless campaign without dropping a single set throughout the 10-day competition.
The new champion had earlier defeated Yusuf Abubakar 6-1, 6-3 in the semi-finals, following victories against David Edwards and Sani Musa in the preceding rounds. His impressive run reinforced his status as Nigeria’s leading men’s tennis player.
Speaking after the triumph, Canice described the title as a major milestone in his career and attributed the success to hard work and thorough preparation.
He expressed appreciation to the organisers, sponsors and members of his support team, noting that winning his first championship in Abuja was a memorable achievement.
The tournament’s closing ceremony also highlighted the Central Bank of Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to sports development. Representing the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, reaffirmed the apex bank’s dedication to using sports as a platform for youth empowerment, talent discovery and national unity.
She noted that the bank’s sponsorship of the championship for over four decades reflects its belief in the transformative role of sports in shaping character and creating opportunities for young Nigerians.
According to Sidi-Ali, the championship has produced several athletes who have gone on to achieve national and international recognition, while the CBN Junior Tennis Championship, introduced in 2006, has continued to serve as a pipeline for nurturing future stars.
She commended participants for their discipline and sportsmanship and praised the Nigeria Tennis Federation for organising another successful edition of the competition.
Also speaking, the Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Development at the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mrs. Mbora Ikana, lauded the CBN for maintaining uninterrupted sponsorship of the tournament for 47 years.
She described the championship as one of Nigeria’s most enduring sporting events and emphasized the importance of continued investment in youth-focused sports programmes. According to her, sports remain a vital tool for engaging young people positively and steering them away from social vices.
Ikana also assured athletes and fans of improvements in future editions, despite the weather-related disruption experienced during the final.
The successful completion of the 47th CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship further strengthened its reputation as one of Nigeria’s premier domestic tennis tournaments, while underscoring the CBN’s enduring commitment to talent development and sporting excellence across the country.
