Tennis: Rasaki Earns Africa Call-Up For Kazakhstan Competition

Nigeria’s junior tennis player, Mabubat Adenike Rasaki, has been selected by the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) to represent Africa at the ATF 12&U Intercontinental Team Competition in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

The competition, scheduled for October 12–17, 2026, will bring together some of the continent’s most promising Under-12 players to compete against their counterparts from other regions.

Rasaki, who represents Oyo State, earned the continental call-up following her impressive performances in the junior category, further highlighting Nigeria’s growing presence in age-group tennis.

Her selection follows Nigeria’s triumph at the West African Under-12 level, where she teamed up with Dabira Oluwaseyi and Chisimdi Afam-Mbonu to help the country emerge champions and qualify for the African Junior Tennis Championship.

The achievement also provides a boost for the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), which has prioritised grassroots development and greater international exposure for young players under the leadership of its president, Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Victor Ochei.

The federation has continued to focus on identifying promising talents early, improving their competitive experience and creating pathways for their progression from domestic junior tournaments to continental and international competitions.

Rasaki’s selection adds to a growing list of Nigerian youngsters making their mark on the international stage.

Another emerging prospect, 12-year-old Mofifunoluwa Atilola, enjoyed an impressive international campaign in 2026, winning three trophies on the ITF/CAT Under-14 circuit in Algeria and climbing to sixth in the African Under-14 rankings.

She subsequently reached the semi-finals of the African Junior Championship in Morocco, holding her own against older opponents.

Nigerian tennis also recorded a significant milestone in 2026 through Oluwaseun Peter Ogunsakin, who became the first Nigerian since Nduka Odizor in 1990 to win a Grand Slam main-draw singles match.

The achievements of Rasaki, Atilola and Ogunsakin have raised hopes of a stronger future for Nigerian tennis, with young players increasingly gaining opportunities to compete beyond the country’s borders.

For the NTF, Rasaki’s selection represents an opportunity to showcase the progress being made in junior tennis development and the importance of exposing emerging players to high-level international competition.

As she prepares to compete in Kazakhstan, Rasaki will be seeking to build on her recent achievements and make the most of the opportunity to represent Africa against some of the world’s leading young tennis players.