NCC Tennis League: Team Civil Defence land in final

Abdulmumuni Babalola, set to lead Team Civil Defence to a grudge final against Team Muller this weekend in Lagos.

Team Civil Defence over the weekend qualified for the final of the 2017 Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Tennis League Cup as they humiliated Team Offikwu out of the National Stadium, Abuja.
The homers recorded a comprehensive 6-1 win over the defending champions to set up a two-day final clash with Team Muller this weekend at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan.
Kaduna-based Team Offikwu had maintained unbeaten run this season before the clash with the Abuja-based Team Civil Defence.
Former national champion, Clifford Enosorogbe overwhelmed Spain-based Sylvester Emmanuel 6-3, 6-2 in the first men’s singles as another veteran player and current Nigeria’s number one, Abdulmumuni Babalola rallied to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Henry Atseye in the second men’s singles.
However, the NCC Tennis League title holders brought some respite to their faithful when reigning CBN Senior Open women’s champion, Sarah Adegoke stunned arch rival and top ranked Christie Agugbom 6-2, 6-2 in the ladies singles to make it 2-1.
The 2015 NCC Tennis League finalists extended their lead to 3-1 in the last game of the day as the pair of Babalola and Enosoregbe outplayed the duo of Sylvester and Atseye 6-3, 6-4 in the men’s doubles.
Babalola, six-time CBN winner, the following day {Sunday} confirmed the final ticket for Civil Defence when he spanked Christopher Bulus 6-3,6-0 in the first men’s reverse singles.
Youthful Michael Chima took the homers’ lead to 5-1 when he rallied to a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Christopher Itodo in the second men’s reverse singles.
The visitors fought spiritedly in the last game of the day to reduce the deficit, but failed as the duo of Bukola Olowu and Nonso Madueke after losing the first set later triumphed over the pair of Offikwu’s Sarah Adegoke and Christopher Bulus 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 in the mixed doubles.
Meanwhile, the winners of the 2017 NCC Tennis League Cup will go home N7million as prize money as finalists settle for N5million, while the third and fourth-placed teams go home with N3million and N2million respectively.