Accra, Ghana – Over the past six weeks ( sept 1- oct 11 2025), Accra became the heartbeat of junior tennis in Africa, with Tennis Foundation Ghana hosting back-to-back ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events ranging from J30 to J100 levels. The courts lit up with electrifying rallies, standout performances, and the emergence of future stars — both local and international.
The tour kicked off with a promising start for Ghana, as local juniors Raphael Dowuona, Hanif Boateng, and Aaron Armaah battled their way into the boys' singles semifinals. On the girls’ side, Sisu-Makena Tomegah, Joy Oriaku, a Nhyira Antwi made deep runs — with Tomegah also reaching the doubles final.
But the spotlight was on Simon Hayal, who clinched the boys' singles title in a thrilling final against Angola’s Emerson Pedro. In the girls’ singles, Comfort Yakubu of Nigeria secured victory over her compatriot Khadijat Eleojo Mohammed.
In doubles, local star Raphael Dowuona partnered with Emerson Pedro to lift the boys' doubles title, while the girls' doubles went to Tomegah and Comfort Yakubu — an impressive Ghana-Nigeria collaboration.
Week 2 brought drama, upsets, and inspiration. Jeff Frimpong thrilled fans with a fairytale run from qualifiers to the quarterfinals, while Dowuona once again made it to the semis.
Nigeria’s Lucky Danjuma, already a two-time J30 champion from April, added another singles title, defeating fellow Nigerian Mubarak Ganiyu. UK-based Ghanaian Gwendolyn Duvor Klu made her first career final, showing great promise against Comfort Yakubu, who won her second consecutive singles title.
On the doubles side, Oluwajomiloju Aminu (GBR) and Ezekiel Azi (NGR) claimed the boys’ doubles, while Yakubu teamed up with Alisha Ndukwu to win the girls’ doubles.
Ghali Salah-Eddine (MAR) beat Danjuma in the boys’ final, while Danjuma and Lantian Bai claimed the doubles title.
In the girls’ draw, Haniya Aman Minhas (KSA) defeated Ghana’s Tomegah in the semis and Alisha Ndukwu (GBR) in the final to take home the singles trophy. The dominant Nigerian duo of Yakubu and Success Ogunjobi secured the doubles title.
Joseph Franklin Jimoh (NGR), ITF Junior World #263, showcased class and poise to win the boys’ singles title over Britain’s Casey Drake, who later teamed up with Jesse Clarkson to win the boys’ doubles.
On the girls’ side, Alisha Ndukwu finally lifted the singles trophy, defeating Yasmine Douyeb (MAR). In doubles, Jannat Chiripal (IND) and Nadine Hamrouni (TUN) upset Yakubu and Ogunjobi to claim the trophy.
American Carel Ngounoue, ITF Junior World #132, lived up to the billing by taking the boys' singles title over compatriot Simon Hayal. The girls’ final saw top seed Lamiss Houas (MAR) take the title over in-form Alisha Ndukwu.
In doubles, Casey Drake and Jesse Clarkson continued their chemistry, winning the boys’ doubles, while Haniya Aman Minhas and Kayla Lorrimer (CAN) lifted the girls’ doubles trophy.
Ngounoue defended his title in style, this time beating Britain’s Jesse Clarkson. In the girls’ singles, Haniya Aman Minhas broke through to win her first career J100 title, defeating top-seeded Lamiss Houas.
In boys’ doubles, Ollie Knight (GBR) and Arman Dubreuil (FRA) emerged champions after a tight contest against Tae Jun Heo (KOR) and Ahmed Ibrahim (EGY). The girls’ doubles was claimed by the duo of Houas and Ndukwu, adding redemption to their doubles campaign.
Beyond the international success stories, this six-week festival of tennis in Accra was a turning point for Ghanaian junior tennis. Players like Raphael Dowuona, Sisu-Makena Tomegah, and Gwendolyn Duvor Klu showcased that the future of Ghanaian tennis is filled with potential.
As the curtains fall on this memorable series, one thing is clear — Accra is now firmly on the ITF junior tennis map, and fans can expect even greater achievements in the near future.
