Team Nigeria Arrives in Morocco for Davis Cup World Group II Clash

Photo Credit: Nigeria Tennis Federation / The Punch (File: The Nigeria Davis Cup team after arriving in Morocco)
Team Nigeria Arrives in Morocco for Davis Cup World Group II Clash

After weeks of intensive training on the clay courts of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Team Nigeria has arrived in Morocco ahead of their Davis Cup World Group II tie against the North African nation.

The encounter is scheduled for September 19 and 20 at the Union Sportive des Cheminots de Tennis du Maroc in Rabat.

The Nigerian contingent includes former national number one Daniel Adeleye, current top-ranked player Canice Abua, Michael Emmanuel, Abubakar Yusuf, and coach Benson Ishicheli, along with four officials of the Nigeria Tennis Federation.

The team departed Nigeria in the early hours of Monday and landed in Morocco at about 11:25 am, where they have now continued their final preparations.

Before departure, the players spent over a week in camp in Lagos under Coach Ishicheli, focusing on fitness and match readiness for the crucial tie.

Nigeria secured their place in World Group II after a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in February. The tie was level at 1-1 after the first day, before Abua and Emmanuel gave Nigeria the lead with a vital doubles win. Adeleye then sealed qualification with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Davis Cup debutant Ilya Ignatov.

Their hosts, Morocco, dropped to World Group II after losing their World Group I play-off to Colombia at the USM Tennis Club Stadium in Casablanca.

Nigeria will be hoping to build on the Uzbekistan win as they push for further progress in the Davis Cup, the premier international men’s team tennis competition organized by the International Tennis Federation.
Source: Punch Newspapers –