Team Ghana once again proved their superiority in the West and Central African Tennis Championship qualifier winning Gold in the Boys 14 and 16 and U 16 girls also winning silver in the team event at the just ended ITF/CAT Championship which was concluded over the weekend in Togo.
Ghana's great showing at the weeklong tournament which featured seven countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Congo, Benin, and host Togo) was highlighted by the country winning the boys' 16 and 14 and under and the girls 16 as runners-up to Togo. Under 16 and 14 boys have officially qualified for the African Junior Championship, which is scheduled later in the year.
The boys 14 under, defeated Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria respectively in the group stage . Beating the host nation Togo 3-0 in the semifinals before facing Cameroon in the finals as Raphael Dowuona outshone Ndinkwa Cedrick 6-1, 6-0. Aaron Armaah did not live up to expectation as he lost 4-6, 0-6 to Ekango Daniel. In the doubles event, Samuel Aryettey and Raphael Dowuona put up a strong display to oust Ekango Daniel and Edinkwa Cedric 4-6, 7-4, (10-8).
Team Ghana began their 16 and under campaign with a straight win 3-0 over Burkina Faso, another 3-0 over Mali to Top the group. Defeated Nigeria in the semifinals before battling past Ivory Coast in the finals as Raphael Nii Ankrah came out very well to win the first set 6-1 and lose the 2nd and final set because of injury 2-6,2-6. In the 2nd singles match, No.1 seed Abubakari Yakubu Lea rallied from a set down to defeat Hoimian Francky Martial1-6, 6-3, 6-3. In the deciding match, Abubakar Yakubu-Lea partnered Lameck Bagerbaseh to sink Ivorian duo Francky Hoimian Martial/ Kouadja Segui Yves Armand 7-5, 6-1.
The girls 16 and under fell 1-2 to host nation Togo in the final as Naa Shika Mckorley lost to Grace Tchamoussa Masamesso 2-6, 3-6. Tracy Ampah also suffered 3-6, 3-6 to Valentine Talaki Abide.
