Nigeria Breaks Through to Davis Cup World Group II with Win Over Uzbekistan

Nigeria Breaks Through to Davis Cup World Group II with Win Over Uzbekistan

By Admin 

Nigeria has secured promotion to the Davis Cup World Group II after a hard-fought victory over Uzbekistan in the World Group II Promotion Playoffs, a result that has drawn commendation from the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The decisive tie was staged at the historic Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, 1895, where Nigeria confirmed promotion with a match to spare after taking an unassailable 3–1 lead on Sunday.

Daniel Adeleye emerged as the standout performer, sealing the promotion with a composed 6–3, 6–4 victory over Ilya Ignatov in the reverse singles to deliver the decisive point for the hosts.

Reacting to the achievement, Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, praised the players, officials, and organisers for their collective effort, describing the success as a reflection of renewed momentum in Nigerian sports.

“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these players and the Nigeria Tennis Federation,” Olopade said. “Everyone who worked tirelessly to organise the tournament deserves commendation, as the promotion earned is a testament to their dedication.”

Olopade noted that the achievement aligned with the federal government’s broader commitment to revitalising sports development, adding that Nigerian sports was “firmly on the right track.”

He also highlighted the Commission’s recent support for elite athletes, revealing that grants amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars had recently been disbursed to 26 athletes as part of preparations for major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games.

Nigeria’s path to promotion was built on a strong showing across both days of the tie. After Saturday’s opening singles ended in a 1–1 draw, the hosts gained a crucial advantage in the doubles match, where Canice Abua and Michael Emmanuel defeated Khumoyun Sultanov and Denis Istomin 7–6, 6–4.

The doubles victory proved pivotal, setting the tone for Sunday’s matches, as Nigeria went on to win both singles encounters to break the deadlock and secure promotion.

The return to the Davis Cup World Group II marks a significant milestone for Nigerian tennis, highlighting the team’s steady progress and growing competitiveness on the global stage.