Team Nigeria wins bronze at Africa Senior Squash Championships

Nigeria’s contingent to the just concluded 2022 Africa Senior Squash Championships in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, has defied the odds to place third at the tournament.

According to Guardian, while the women’s team, which included Favour Utukpe, Busayo Olatunji, Rofiat AbdulAzeez and Blessing Isaac defeated Zambia on Monday morning to seal third place, their male counterparts conquered Kenya 2-0.

The Pharaohs of Egypt lived up to their billing as the best in Africa, as they defeated their fellow squash powerhouse and closest rivals, South Africa, in the men and women’s final, yesterday, winning 2-1 in both finals.

It was a good experience for the young Nigerian team as it was the players’ first time at the championships, but remained undeterred by old timers and more experienced teams.

Squash Federation of Africa President, Lucky Mlilo, who doubles as Squash Racquets Association of Zimbabwe chairman, commended the participating teams. He said Egypt has shown that they are the team to beat while newcomers, Nigerians, have shown huge potential of being champions soon.

In the men’s third place match versus Kenya, Gabriel Olufunmilayo and Onaopemipo Adegoke won 3-0 and 3-2 respectively, while in the female match against Zambia, Blessing Isaac triumphed 3-1, while Rofiat Abdulazeez and Busayo Olatunji won 3-1 and 3-0 respectively.