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ATF Under-12 Intercontinental Team Competition: 12-Year-Old Nigerian Tennis Star Rasaki to Represent Africa in Kazakhstan
Twelve-year-old Nigerian tennis prospect Mabubat Adenike Rasaki is preparing for one of the biggest challenges of her young career after earning selection to represent Africa at the ATF Under-12 Intercontinental Team Competition in Kazakhstan.
The Oyo State player was selected by the Confederation of African Tennis among the continent’s leading young talents, giving her an opportunity to compete against players from other regions.
The tournament is scheduled to run from October 12 to 17 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
For Rasaki, the invitation represents a significant step beyond the domestic and regional competitions where she has already established herself.
Her selection follows Nigeria’s success at the West African Under-12 level, where she competed alongside Dabira Oluwaseyi and Chisimdi Afam-Mbonu.
Their victory helped Nigeria qualify for the African Junior Tennis Championship, providing another important stage in Rasaki’s development.
However, the Kazakhstan competition presents a different challenge.
Rather than representing Nigeria alone, Rasaki will compete as part of an African contingent against young players from other parts of the world.
The experience could expose her to unfamiliar playing styles, stronger competition and the demands of international team tennis.
For a player still in the early stages of her career, such opportunities can be valuable in building confidence and understanding the standards required at higher levels.
Rasaki’s emergence also comes during an encouraging period for Nigerian junior tennis.
Another young prospect, Mofifunoluwa Atilola, enjoyed success on the African junior circuit this year, winning three titles in Algeria and reaching the semi-finals of the African Junior Championship in Morocco.
Their progress highlights the importance of providing young Nigerian players with regular opportunities to compete beyond familiar environments.
Although Rasaki’s selection is already an achievement, the upcoming tournament will offer a more demanding test of her development.
The competition also provides an opportunity to measure how emerging African players compare with their counterparts from other regions.
For Rasaki, the immediate objective will be gaining experience and competing confidently against unfamiliar opponents.
At just 12 years old, she has already earned the opportunity to represent an entire continent.
Her next challenge is making that opportunity count.
Enugu State Government has alleged that some opposition elements are plotting to bring armed thugs and bandits into the state to create panic and insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The government also blamed the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, for the crisis at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the party’s state secretariat in Enugu on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, made the allegations on Sunday during a press conference at the Government House, Enugu.
Onyia, who addressed reports linking the state government to the incidents, said the airport confrontation arose after the NDC allegedly attempted to hold a statewide campaign flag-off at the facility without obtaining approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
According to him, the state government’s findings showed that the NDC had publicised its “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026” at the airport through the party’s state chapter and the social media page of its governorship candidate.
He said the police had advised the party to obtain FAAN’s approval before deploying officers to the airport for the event.
The SSG, however, alleged that the party proceeded to mobilise its members to the facility despite failing to secure the necessary authorisation.
“The attempt to forcibly gain entry into the facility resulted in a faceoff between them and the airport authorities,” he said.
Onyia added that security agencies subsequently intervened and dispersed the party members to restore order around the airport, describing the incident as consistent with the statement issued by the Enugu State Police Command on Sunday.
The government also addressed the violence reported at the NDC state secretariat in the GRA area of Enugu, saying the police were investigating the incident.
According to Onyia, one Ifeanyi Nworie, 43, sustained a gunshot wound during the clash and was taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, before being transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, for further examination.
He insisted that no death was recorded during the incident, dismissing reports and claims by NDC leaders that people had died.
The SSG also denied allegations that the governor’s Chief Security Officer was present at the party secretariat and supervised the shooting.
He claimed that the security officer was with Governor Peter Mbah at the Teachers Grassroots Movement mega rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, at the time of the incident.
Onyia further criticised the party for allegedly observing a minute’s silence for a person he claimed was still alive, describing the action as an attempt to mislead the public and gain political sympathy.
The government condemned political violence and said it remained committed to protecting the lives and property of residents, irrespective of their political affiliations.
It also accused opposition parties in the state of repeatedly portraying Enugu as unsafe and the Mbah administration as intolerant of dissent.
The SSG cited the September 12, 2026 incident at Obuofia in Nkanu West Local Government Area as an example of what he described as attempts by opposition factions to blame the All Progressives Congress (APC) for internal disputes.
He claimed that investigations had identified the perpetrators of the incident and that they were being prosecuted by the police.
Onyia further alleged that the state government had uncovered plans by some opposition elements to engage armed thugs and bandits to create insecurity ahead of the 2027 elections, although he did not provide specific details of the alleged plot during the press conference.
He maintained that the government would not allow the peace and security recorded in the state over the past three years to be undermined.
2027: Enugu alleges opposition plot to import armed thugs, bandits
Bendel Insurance have confirmed the return of goalkeeper Joshua Baba ahead of their Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Matchday 8 fixture against Sporting Lagos.
The return comes after the club declared Baba absent without official leave (AWOL) for failing to report for duty after an approved recovery period.
The shot-stopper’s absence followed an injury he sustained on Matchday 1 against Warri Wolves at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The former Enyimba goalkeeper was granted a two-week recovery period and subsequently travelled to Plateau State to visit his family.
He, however, failed to return to Benin City within the stipulated period.
According to Bendel Insurance, Baba resurfaced in Lagos on Saturday night and joined the team at its hotel as the Benin Arsenal prepared for their clash against Sporting Lagos.
Euromatch NPFL: Bendel Insurance confirm Baba’s return ahead Sporting Lagos clash
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