ITF Juniors World Tour: Nigeria’s Okonkwo dominates in Accra

IKENNA Prosperity Okonkwo from Nigeria delivered a commanding performance as he claimed both the singles and doubles titles at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Juniors World Tour tournament in Accra, capping off a thrilling six-week event last Saturday.

In a gripping Boys’ Singles final, Okonkwo, 15, triumphed over his compatriot and main rival, Daniel Adeleye, in a fierce three-set battle.

Okonkwo’s 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the top-seeded Adeleye marked his second consecutive J60 singles title win in Accra, sealing an incredible run despite missing the opening week of the competition.

Once he entered the fray, Okonkwo’s impact was immediate and relentless. In the second week, he claimed both singles and doubles titles, partnering with Joseph Franklin Jimoh to secure the Boys’ Doubles crown.

The pair overcame Belgium's Jules Dannevoye and Louis Mouffe 6-3, 6-1, clinching their second J60 doubles title in as many weeks.

This victory, combined with three singles trophies, established Okonkwo as the standout player of the tournament hosted by Tennis Foundation Ghana (TFG) at the National Tennis Centre in Accra.

Despite a quiet fourth week, Okonkwo returned with force in the fifth and sixth weeks, decisively ending Adeleye’s dominance in the J60 competition. His victories in Accra followed a similar pattern to his breakthrough earlier in the year, where he defeated Adeleye to win his first ITF juniors title in Nigeria.

Okonkwo's impressive feat makes him the only player to claim titles in both J30 and J60 singles, alongside doubles triumphs in each category, highlighting Nigeria’s overwhelming dominance of the boys’ tournament. With a haul of ITF points from this campaign, Okonkwo’s ambition of competing in the junior Grand Slam is now within reach.

Reflecting on his success, Okonkwo told the Graphic Sports, “It’s all hard work, dedication, calmness, and prayer. That’s number one—always put God first. I also thank the Aurum Tennis Foundation for supporting me. They do everything for me, and I’m working hard to make them proud.”
He acknowledged the importance of the six-week competition in Accra, adding, “These six weeks were crucial because I needed the points, but it was also gruelling and expensive. My goal now is to reach the junior Grand Slam, so I’ll keep pushing to get there.”

Meanwhile, in the Girls’ Singles final, third-seeded Alisha Ndukwu of Great Britain made light work of Tunisia’s Lamiss Houas, winning 6-3, 6-2 to claim her first J60 title in Accra.

In the wake of Nigeria’s overwhelming success, Roger Crawford, founder and CEO of Tennis Foundation Ghana, praised the victors while calling for reflection on the performance of local players. 

“Big congratulations to the Nigerians. I feel like we hosted this tournament for them. We need to evaluate the performance of our Ghanaian players and address how to improve. It’s a wake-up call, and we’ll tackle it head-on.”

With his exceptional display, Okonkwo leaves Accra as a rising star of African tennis, his sights firmly set on the global stage.