The 2026 Sapetro Futures Tennis Tournament concluded at the Mainland Tennis Club in Lagos, with the Afaramai family making a significant impact. Heman and Godwin Afaramai, siblings from Nasarawa State, won two of the three boys' titles at the event. Their impressive performance announced their arrival in the mainstream of Nigerian tennis. The tournament, run by the International Tennis Academy, featured players from various states across Nigeria.
Heman Afaramai, the top seed in the Boys' 16s category, had a challenging semifinal match against Garuba Taiwo from Ogun State. He was pushed to a final set tiebreaker but managed to secure his spot in the final. In the final, he faced Dami Agunbiade from the Calabar Sports Club, who retired due to stomach discomfort while trailing 1-5. Heman's victory marked a significant achievement for the young tennis player.
Godwin Afaramai, Heman's younger brother, also had a remarkable run in the tournament. Playing in the Boys' 12s category, Godwin needed encouragement from his mother to overcome Ademola Adejumobi from Ogun State. The match went to a final set tiebreaker, with Godwin emerging victorious 10-8. This win marked another impressive achievement for the Afaramai siblings.
The Ogun State players made up for their loss in the Boys' 12s category with Friday Testimony beating Adesina Alaba from Oyo State in straight sets to win the Boys' 12s title. However, it was not an all-Ogun State victory, as the Girls' 12s title was won by Amira Mohammed from Kwara State, who beat her teammate Mariam Bello.
The Girls' 14s and 16s titles were also decided in thrilling matches. Anu Odebode from Lagos Lawn Tennis Club edged Barakat Ganiyu from Oyo State to win the Girls' 14s title. Adeshewa Olaniyan from Ondo State beat Tolu Agunbiade from the Calabar Sports Club in a close encounter to win the Girls' 16s title.
The most outstanding players of the tournament awards were given to Anu Odebode for the girls and Heman Afaramai for the boys. The awards ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including Emeke Anagbogu, the Managing Director of South Atlantic Petroleum company, and Akinlolu Akinyele, the Managing Director and CEO of Industrial and General Insurance Plc (IGI).
The Sapetro Futures Tennis Tournament introduced a novel third-place competition for losing semifinalists, which added an extra layer of excitement to the event. The tournament was a significant success, with players from various states showcasing their skills and competing for top honors.
Key points
- The Afaramai siblings, Heman and Godwin, won two titles at the Sapetro Futures Tennis Tournament in Lagos.
- The tournament featured players from various states across Nigeria and was run by the International Tennis Academy.
- Anu Odebode and Heman Afaramai were awarded the most outstanding players of the tournament in the girls' and boys' categories, respectively.
