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Frances Mogaji, a Ghana-based Nigerian tennis player, has defeated Funke Aiyenugba to emerge winner of the 2026 Amazons Tennis Tournament in Lagos.
Over 120 women registered to play the women’s tennis championship which celebrates the International Women’s Day and it came down to Mogaji and Aiyenugba as the finalists, a match up which left the centre court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club reeling with excitement despite the late timing of the fixture.
Mogaji started the match with a lot of enthusiasm, hitting her trademark backhand strokes relentlessly en route to taking the first set 4-1. The second set, however, became more intense as Aiyenugba, the number one player at the Police College Tennis Club, Ikeja, gathered momentum.
Despite appearing physically tired, the recent Lagos Ladies Open winner showed why she remains one of the best players in women’s recreational tennis, as she fought elegantly on the court as she was cheered on by her club members and friends.
The second set had to be decided with a seven-point tiebreak with the match tied at 3-3. No sooner had they started the tiebreak than Mogaji had raced to a 4-1 lead, a scoreline that got the audience pumped up.
The tiebreak eventually ended 7-2 in favour of Frances Mogaji who eventually won the second edition of the event 4-1, 4-3(2).
She took home a giant trophy and a cash prize of N300,000. Mogaji was also adjudged the most improved player at the competition and rewarded with N250,000, bringing her total prize money to N550,000.
Aiyenugba was also rewarded with a trophy and a N200,000 cash prize for emerging runner-up at the annual event which is touted as the biggest female tennis tournament in Africa.
The competition also featured young tennis players who participated in the Junior Amazons category. Adesewa Olaniyan partnered Omoyinka Ayinla to defeat the pair of Bisola Ogunkolade and Tiffany Osho 6-1 in a doubles match.
The winners were presented with N100,000 cheques each and a trophy to match for their performance on the day.
Ambassador Joy Obafemi, Convener of the Amazons Tennis Tournament, told newsmen after the event that next year’s event will be a two-day championship.
This, according to her, “will allow more women participate in the tournament and enable them enjoy their time at the competition even better”.
