Sports

Davnotch National Open: Lucky Danjuma Advances to Round of 16 After Gritty Win

Published

3 months ago

July 15, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Lucky Danjuma has booked his spot in the round of 16 at the Davnotch National Open Tennis Championship following a hard-fought win over Mathew Abamu on Monday in Abuja.

The match, played at the National Tennis Centre, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, saw Danjuma edge a tense contest 6-7(8), 6-2, 4-0 (retired), after Abamu was forced to withdraw in the third set.

Danjuma, who lost the first set in a close tiebreak, bounced back with a dominant second set and took control of the third before Abamu retired.

He will now face Musa Mohammed, who progressed after Endurance Ehigiamusoe retired at 5-1 in their encounter.

Speaking after his win, Danjuma said he remains focused on winning the title, despite the challenges ahead. “This is my second time playing in this tournament. I lost in the round of 32 the first time,” he recalled.

He attributed his first-set loss to poor officiating, which affected his concentration. “The umpire’s inconsistency distracted me, but I chose to focus in the second set and it paid off,” he said.

Danjuma also confirmed his participation in the doubles category starting tomorrow and expressed confidence in his team’s chances.

On his part, Abamu acknowledged the need to improve his stamina and endurance. “Once I build these qualities, I believe I’ll perform better and find relief on the court,” he stated.

Other Results:
Men’s Singles:

Mubarak Ganiyu def. Michael Osewa 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (retired)

Abua Canice def. Stephen James 6-2, 6-1

Musa Mohammed def. Endurance Ehigiamusoe 5-1 (retired)

Women’s Singles (Round of 16 qualifiers):

Blessing Omotayo def. Favour Godwin 6-2, 6-1

Loveth Ogah def. Omotayo Osewa-Jatto 6-2, 6-4

Timipre Maxwell def. Destiny Tomozayi 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Etoro Bassey def. Abosede Bamidele 6-2, 6-2

Success Ogunjobi def. Khadijat Salami 6-1, 6-1

Danjuma recently finished as runner-up at the VEMP National Open Tennis Championship on July 12, also in Abuja.

Over 200 players are participating in this year’s Davnotch National Open, which features men’s and women’s singles and doubles categories. The tournament, which began on July 12, will run until July 19.

Share on Facebook

Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

16 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

Share on Facebook