Ghana’s wheelchair tennis team secured a historic bronze medal at the 2025 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Wheelchair Tennis Men’s World Team Cup African Qualifying Tournament, defeating Kenya in straight sets last Saturday in Rabat, Morocco.
This milestone underscores the rapid growth of wheelchair tennis in the country and keeps Ghana’s hopes of securing a wild card entry to the global championship in Turkey this May.
The third-place finish marks Ghana’s best-ever performance in the competition and signals a major breakthrough for the nation's para-sports development.
With only the champions, Morocco, earning an automatic spot at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Antalya (May 6-11, 2025), Ghana could still qualify should any team withdraw from the tournament.
Advertisement
At the closing ceremony of the February 18-22 event, Ghana’s Ambassador to Morocco, Her Excellency Mrs Charity Gbedawo, was present to celebrate the team's achievement and encourage them to aim even higher.
“I congratulate the team on making Ghana proud. Your determination and resilience are inspiring. Keep working hard, and even greater victories will come,” she told the players during their meeting in Rabat.
The tournament featured six nations, divided into two groups, with the top teams advancing to the gold medal match.
Host nation Morocco defeated Egypt in the final to claim gold, while the Egyptians settled for silver.
South Africa had already secured a place at the global championship due to their top-10 finish at the 2024 World Cup.
Journey to bronze
Ghana’s squad, led by Bernard Yawson and Daniel Laryea, faced a tough start, losing to Egypt in their opening match.
However, they bounced back impressively, defeating Mauritius to finish second in Group 2 and earning a semi-final clash with Morocco.
Despite a valiant effort, the hosts proved too strong, forcing Ghana into the third-place playoff against Kenya.
Morocco’s path to the title saw them dominate Group 1, where they overcame Kenya and Rwanda before outclassing both Group 2 teams to claim the coveted ticket to Turkey.
The bronze-winning squad, under the leadership of Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF) Wheelchair Tennis Committee Assistant Coordinator, Kwabena Afriyie-Siaw, expressed their gratitude for the immense support they received.
“We sincerely appreciate the GTF Wheelchair Tennis Committee for their efforts in raising funds, particularly from generous individuals in the Volta Region, as well as support from leading insurance brokers, Donewell Insurance,” Henry Larbi, National Coordinator of GTF Wheelchair Tennis, said.
He also extended appreciation to those who contributed to the team's training camp.
“A special thank you to Bridget Nartey, Stacy Konadu Mensah and Coach Philip Plange for their dedication in preparing the team during the two-week residential training at Sonrise SHS Tennis Court in Ho,” Larbi noted.
He also acknowledged the ITF’s travel grant that facilitated Ghana’s participation and the Ghana Tennis Federation Board for its continuous support.
Ghana’s strong performance in Morocco is a significant step forward for the sport, providing momentum for further development and international recognition.
With renewed confidence, the team will now turn their attention to future competitions, aiming to elevate wheelchair tennis in Ghana to even greater heights.
