Shocks, Comebacks, Rivalries Headline Prime Atlantic Tourney Q’finals
Kunle Adewale
The quarterfinal stage of the 4th edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament delivered a gripping mix of youthful flair, surprise upsets, and emotional comebacks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on Wednesday.
In the Under-19 girls’ category, Aisha Abduraheem stunned spectators with a commanding 3-0 victory over Jennifer Madukozor. Esther Opiye and Year Gabriel also booked their semifinal spots with straight-set wins, the latter triumphing over Gabrielle.
Zainab Ishola completed the lineup with a dominant 3-0 win over Chioma Ude, sealing her place in the last four.
However, the boys’ category delivered one of the day’s most talked-about moments. Usman Barua, hoping to mark his birthday with a win, was left heartbroken after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Shuaib Giwa.
“I felt really bad. I was hoping to gift myself a win today, being my birthday,” he said.
Giwa, who had earlier crashed out of the senior category, was unfazed by the sentiment. “I needed to prove a point after my senior category exit. Birthday or not, I had to win,” he stated.
In another keenly contested tie, friendship clashed with ambition as Lagos-based Quadri Yusuf faced his close friend, Friday Daniel. Quadri emerged victorious, sealing a 3-0 win in a match that tested their mental toughness.
“I gave it my all, but Quadri was just better today,” Friday said. “Someday, I’ll beat him.”
Quadri, smiling after the match, responded: “I look forward to that day too. We keep pushing each other to improve.”
Arguably the most dramatic match of the day came when Joshua Daniel came from two sets down to defeat Ibrahim Abdulazeez 3-2, sparking wild applause from the crowd.
“I was just determined not to lose. I’ve had too many defeats—I didn’t want another one today,” Daniel said.
In the senior women’s category, Ebifemi Taiwo, a bronze medallist at the 2012 National Sports Festival, made a surprise return to form, defeating Jadesola Olatunji.
However, her resurgence was short-lived, as number-two seed Blessing Isaac edged her out in a composed performance.
There was a heartwarming story in the return of Faidat Soliu, a former junior champion who took a five-year break for her academic pursuits.
In only her second tournament since returning, Soliu battled to a hard-fought win over Mostura Durosinloroun.
“Being back on court feels surreal,” Soliu said. “Today’s win reminded me why I love this game.”
The biggest upset of the tournament so far came in the men’s category when Samuel Nduka-Uba knocked out top-seeded Abel Shedrak 3-2 in a fierce contest.
But his fairytale run ended in the semifinal, where Lagos State’s Quadri Yusuf also competing in the U-19 category defeated him 3-1 with a mature and commanding display.
It was an all-Lagos affair, as both players represented the state at the 2025 National Sports Festival.
Coach Sanni Kabir, fondly called Coach Eba, expressed pride in his players’ performances.
“Expect the unexpected,” he said. “These young players are writing their own stories.
They’ve shown remarkable grit and composure. The future of squash in Lagos is in good hands.”
As the semifinals loom, anticipation continues to build around what more the Prime Atlantic Squash Tournament has in store.
In the men’s senior semifinal, Quadri Yusuf will face Dominion Utukpe, while top-seeded Rofiat Abuduazeez will take on Delight Allison in the women’s last four.
Joshua Daniel is set to battle Benjamin Monday in the U-19 boys’ category, and in the girls’ U-19 semifinal, Aisha Abduraheem will square off against Esther Opiye in a clash of rising stars.
