Nigeria Hosts Uzbekistan In Crucial Davis Cup World Group II Playoff

Nigeria Hosts Uzbekistan In Crucial Davis Cup World Group II Playoff

By Niyi Busari 

The President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s chances of securing promotion as the national team prepares to face Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup World Group II promotion playoff this weekend.

The crucial tie will be played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, with Nigeria aiming to return to the global tennis spotlight through a strong performance on home soil.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Ochei described the fixture as a potential turning point for the development of tennis in the country, citing the level of preparation put into both organising the event and readying the players.

“We are very excited about what lies ahead for Nigerian tennis. That is why we have ensured that the organisation of this Davis Cup tie meets international standards, while the players have also been thoroughly prepared to secure the promotion ticket,” Ochei said.

The Davis Cup, often described as the World Cup of tennis, is the premier international team competition organised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Nigeria will be seeking promotion as part of its drive to re-establish itself among competitive tennis nations.

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the Lagos tie, Victor Hembah, also called on tennis fans in Lagos to turn out in large numbers to support the national team, describing the playoff as a historic opportunity for Nigerian tennis.

Matches will be played from Saturday to Sunday, with Nigeria fielding a five-man squad comprising Daniel Adeleye, Canice Abua, Michael Emmanuel, Uchenna Oparaoji and Yusuf Abubakar.