Clement Efakpokire and Ngozi-Pope Orewa are the champions of the 2026 Prime Atlantic Squash Closed Tournament. The tournament wrapped up on Saturday at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos after a week filled with tough matches.
Efakpokire defended his men’s title, winning his second championship in a row by beating Papa Ibru in the final. After the match, he called the tournament tough but rewarding. He also thanked Prime Atlantic for their long-time support for squash in Nigeria.
“I want to thank the sponsors, Prime Atlantic, for standing by the game of squash. They have supported this tournament at Ikoyi Club for over ten years. In this economy, it is not easy for a company to continue investing in sports development, and we are grateful,” Efakpokire said after his victory.
In the women’s category, Orewa won against Nike Adebayo to take the championship title. She said her win came from months of hard work, discipline, and training.
“Winning this championship is a great achievement for me. It took a lot of effort, practice, and commitment to get here. I am grateful for the victory, and I am looking forward to more wins, better health, and many more championships,” Orewa stated.
In the veterans’ category, Goke Adediran claimed victory after defeating Mabadeji Adeniyi. Adediran credited his many years in squash for helping him face the competition.
Adediran started playing squash at age 10 with his father. He said he entered the tournament feeling confident.
“I have been playing for a long time, so I believed I could go far. I knew whoever I met in the final would be difficult to beat, but experience helped me through,” he shared.
Sodi Pepple took home the title in the super veterans’ category, finishing ahead of Mike Nwabuzor, who was the runner-up.
Oluwatomilayo Ariyo, the marketing and corporate communications manager for Prime Atlantic Limited, spoke for the sponsors. She emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting squash and sports development through their corporate social responsibility programs.
“Sports is one of our key CSR pillars, and squash has become a significant part of that commitment. We have proudly supported this tournament for over a decade and have watched the players improve while the competition becomes stronger every year. We are excited to continue supporting the growth of squash in Nigeria,” Ariyo said.
Temitope Olubusi, former captain and secretary of the squash section at Ikoyi Club 1938, called the annual tournament an important way to develop players and encourage more people to take part in the sport.
Olubusi pointed out the health benefits of squash, saying the game helps with fitness, reflexes, and mental sharpness.
“When you see someone in their 60s playing squash with the fitness of someone much younger, you understand the health benefits the game provides. It improves reflexes, physical well-being, and mental sharpness,” he explained.
The 2026 Prime Atlantic Squash Closed Tournament, held from July 20 to 25, ended with a closing party at the Squash Ground Lounge, Ikoyi Club 1938. It marked another successful edition of this long-running championship.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇