By Tayo Adeyemo
Nigeria’s Davis Cup team has earned promotion to World Group II after finishing third at the Africa Group III qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
The squad of Christopher Bulus, Daniel Adeleye, Michael Emmanuel, and Canice Abua overcame illness and limited preparation to secure victories over Senegal, Algeria, and Zimbabwe, losing only to Namibia. Senegal topped the group, followed by Namibia, with all three teams advancing. Algeria and Zimbabwe missed out.
Non-playing captain and coach Benson Isichelli praised his players’ resilience despite difficult conditions.
“Our going was a miracle. We had no camping due to lack of funds, so we used the CBN Open as our only preparation. When we got to Zimbabwe, most of us fell sick with the flu and couldn’t train properly—only Bulus, who joined us from the U.S., was fully fit. Yet the boys fought through running noses and medical treatment to earn promotion,” he said.
The World Group II Playoff draw will be held in December, with matches scheduled for February 2026.
Coach Isichelli urged for greater support ahead of the next stage.
“We are facing teams from Europe and Asia who are ahead of us in facilities and preparation. We need early camping, better training, and financial support if we want to compete at this level.”