Morocco ended Nigeria’s historic Davis Cup World Group II campaign with a comprehensive 4-0 victory at the Railway Club courts in Rabat on Sunday.
The hosts completed the clean sweep after taking a commanding 2-0 lead on Saturday, winning both singles rubbers before adding victories in the doubles and reverse singles on Sunday.
Karim Bennani got Morocco off to a strong start with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Nigeria’s Canice Abua.
Yassine Dlimi then produced an identical 6-1, 6-2 scoreline against Yusuf Abubakar to put Morocco firmly in control of the tie heading into Sunday’s action.
Nigeria needed a strong response in the doubles, with Michael Emmanuel partnering Abubakar against Morocco’s Younes Lalami and Dlimi.
However, the Moroccan pair maintained their dominance, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory to seal the tie and give the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Amine Jamji completed Morocco’s victory in the reverse singles, defeating Emmanuel 6-3, 6-4 to hand the hosts a 4-0 triumph.
The defeat brings Nigeria’s campaign at the World Group II level to an end after the country earned promotion in February with a memorable 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan.
That promotion represented the highest level Nigeria had reached in Davis Cup competition.
Nigeria’s preparations for the crucial Morocco tie were affected by withdrawals, with Adeleye ruled out through injury and Seun Ogunsakin also unavailable due to conditioning concerns.
Morocco’s victory earns them a place in the 2027 World Group I Play-offs, while Nigeria will continue in the World Group II Play-offs next year.
The result also extended Nigeria’s wait for a first Davis Cup victory over Morocco. The two nations have now met five times since 1973, with Morocco winning on each occasion.
Despite the disappointing exit, Nigeria’s promotion earlier this year remains a significant milestone in the country’s Davis Cup history, having taken the team to its highest-ever level in the competition.
Leave a comment