Nigeria To Host 15 Nations At 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship

Nigeria To Host 15 Nations At 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship

By Niyi Busari 

The Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) has announced that 15 countries, including host nation Nigeria, will participate in the 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship scheduled to take place in Abuja from June 2 to June 13, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The prestigious tournament will be held at the Tennis Complex of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and will feature some of the world's most promising young tennis players competing for International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour Junior ranking points.

Participating countries include Nigeria, Cameroon, China, Great Britain, Canada, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lithuania, India, Togo, Benin Republic, the United States, Sweden and France.

The two-week championship provides a competitive platform for players aged 13 to 18 to gain valuable international exposure while enhancing their global rankings and development.

Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference in Abuja on Monday, NTF Technical Director and Tournament Director, Saidu Musa, described the event as a significant milestone in the federation’s grassroots development agenda.

According to Musa, the ITF Junior World Tennis Tour programme was introduced in Nigeria in 2019 and has since evolved into one of the federation’s most successful talent identification and development initiatives.

“This is the sixth edition of the ITF Junior World Tennis Tour being organised in Nigeria. The programme is independently managed by the Nigeria Tennis Federation, and we are delighted to welcome NASCO Group as a sponsor this year,” he said.

“We hope this partnership will be sustained over the long term and contribute significantly to the growth of grassroots tennis in the country.”

Musa noted that the impact of the junior circuit is already evident, with several members of Nigeria’s current Davis Cup team emerging from the programme. He also revealed that one of the tournament’s beneficiaries recently competed in the qualifying rounds of the Junior French Open at Roland Garros.

He described the J30 Junior Series as a strategic developmental pathway aimed at producing elite players capable of representing Nigeria on the international stage.

“The programme was established to develop the next generation of tennis stars, and we are gradually achieving that objective,” he added.

The tournament director also highlighted the federation’s commitment to sustaining the initiative, noting that the NTF successfully organised the competition for six consecutive years without external sponsorship.

He commended former NTF President, the late Dayo Akindoju, and Secretary-General Shammah Makpa for their contributions to the growth and sustainability of the junior circuit.

Musa disclosed that the federation currently hosts six weeks of junior tournaments annually, comprising four weeks in Abuja and two weeks in Lagos, with plans to further expand the calendar as additional corporate partners come on board.

Representing NASCO Foods Group, Tournament Coordinator Joseph Oke reaffirmed the company’s commitment to youth development and sports empowerment through its sponsorship of the championship.

“It is an honour for NASCO to be associated with this tournament. One of our core values is youth empowerment through education and sports,” Oke said.

“Nigeria is blessed with immense sporting talent, but without structured competitions, it becomes difficult to identify, nurture and expose young athletes to international opportunities.”

Oke noted that while NASCO has previously supported sporting disciplines such as cycling, polo and golf, the company is entering tennis sponsorship for the first time.

“This is not a one-off intervention. Our vision is to grow alongside the tournament. Today it is a J30 event, but we hope to support its progression to J60, J100 and even higher-level competitions in the future,” he said.

Also speaking, ITF representative Joseph Edili stressed the importance of maintaining international standards in tournament administration and officiating.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that the championship is conducted according to global best practices. The Nigeria Tennis Federation has invested significantly in training umpires, chair umpires and line officials who have distinguished themselves on the international stage,” Edili said.

He assured players, coaches, parents, media personnel and spectators of a safe, professional and well-organised environment throughout the competition.

The 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s position as a growing hub for junior tennis development in Africa while providing a pathway for emerging talents to compete at the highest levels of the sport.