Cover image: @Beeorlicious

Nigeria has clinched promotion to the Davis Cup World Group II after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in a thrilling playoff tie at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, marking a triumphant return for elite tennis to the city after 19 years.

Teenager Daniel Adeleye sealed the victory on Sunday afternoon with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 win over Ilya Ignatov in the fourth rubber, sparking wild celebrations among home fans and securing Nigeria’s place at a higher level of international competition.

The result means Nigeria won the tie with a match to spare, capping a memorable weekend that has been described as a watershed moment for tennis in the country.

The tie began with mixed fortunes on Saturday. Uzbekistan’s Khumoyun Sultanov handed the visitors an early advantage, defeating Nigeria’s Canice Abua 6-4, 6-3. But Adeleye, just 19 years old, responded with resilience to level the scores.

Facing Abdulaziz Usmonjonov, the Nigerian number one dropped the opening set before roaring back to claim a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory that sent the home crowd into raptures and brought the tie level at 1-1.

Sunday’s doubles rubber proved decisive. Abua teamed up with Michael Emmanuel to deliver a composed performance against the experienced pairing of Denis Istomin and Sultanov, winning 7-6, 6-4 to give Nigeria a crucial 2-1 lead.

“It came down to staying composed and backing each other when the pressure was on,” Abua said afterwards. Emmanuel added: “Every point counts in Davis Cup, and we’re proud to deliver for Nigeria.”

With momentum firmly on Nigeria’s side, Adeleye returned for the first reverse singles match and clinched promotion in style, dispatching Ignatov in straight sets without facing a deciding rubber.

The promotion to World Group II represents Nigeria’s highest achievement in Davis Cup competition in recent memory. Currently ranked 74th globally, Nigeria overcame 49th-ranked Uzbekistan through a combination of youthful talent, home support, and improved organization.

Victor Ochei, President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, had described the tie as evidence of progress within Nigerian tennis. His vision of proper organization and global competitiveness has now been validated with this historic result.

The squad that delivered promotion features emerging stars like Adeleye and Emmanuel (2025 CBN Open champion), alongside experienced players Abua, Uchenna Oparaoji, and Davis Cup newcomer Abubakar Yusuf.

Nigeria earned their playoff spot after strong performances at the African Group III tournament in Zimbabwe last August, and they have now converted that opportunity into promotion.

What’s Next

Advancement to World Group II positions Nigeria closer to the elite levels of international tennis and brings the possibility of competing at the Davis Cup Finals within reach. The promotion also signals a revival of competitive tennis in Nigeria after years of rebuilding.

Beyond the immediate sporting achievement, the successful hosting of the tie in Lagos—the first time in 19 years—demonstrates Nigeria’s capacity to stage world-class tennis events and could pave the way for more international competitions returning to the country.