Clement Efakpokire on Sunday successfully defended his title as champion of the 2026 Prime Atlantic Squash Closed Tournament, which ended on Saturday at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos after a week of intense competition.
Also, Ngozi-Pope Orewa emerged as champion of the 2026 Prime Atlantic Squash Closed Tournament, which ended on Saturday at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos after a week of intense competition.
Efakpokire defeated Papa Ibru in the final to successfully defended his men’s title, securing his second consecutive championship victory after
The champion described the tournament as challenging but rewarding, while praising Prime Atlantic for its long-standing support for squash development 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 retaining his title.
In the women’s category, Orewa defeated Nike Adebayo to claim the championship. She attributed her success to months of preparation, discipline and consistent 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 said.
The veterans’ category saw Goke Adediran emerge victorious after defeating Mabadeji Adeniyi. Adediran credited his years of experience in squash for helping him overcome the challenges of the competition.
Adediran, who started playing squash at the age of 10 alongside his father, said he approached the tournament with confidence.
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 said.
Sodi Pepple won the super veterans’ category, finishing ahead of Mike Nwabuzor, who settled for the runner-up position.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Prime Atlantic Limited’s marketing and corporate communications manager, Oluwatomilayo Ariyo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting squash and sports development through its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
“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.
Former captain and secretary of the squash section at Ikoyi Club 1938, Temitope Olubusi, described the annual tournament, which has continued for more than two decades, as an important platform for developing players and promoting participation in the sport.
Olubusi highlighted the health benefits of squash, noting that the game helps improve fitness, reflexes and mental alertness.
“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 said.
The 2026 Prime Atlantic Squash Closed Tournament, held from July 20 to 25, concluded with a closing party at the Squash Ground Lounge, Ikoyi Club 1938, marking another successful edition of the long-running championship.
