American tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams arrived in Nigeria’s largest city yesterday as part of a two-nation tour that will see them play exhibition matches to promote women’s rights.

The sisters are both counted among the US’s most accomplished athletes, sharing 22 women’s singles titles between them.

Their trip is aimed at promoting “the role that women play in shifting perceptions and encouraging development at all levels across the African continent,” said a statement from the event promoters.

Serena, 31, and Venus, 32, are due to meet the governor of Lagos, hold a tennis clinic, visit a puberty education class for girls and play an exhibition match before heading to South Africa on Friday.

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