Abuja 2024: Davis Cup qualifiers to serve off July 16

All is set for Africa Group III qualifiers of the Davis Cup (Tennis version of World Cup) tagged Abuja 2024 as Nigeria hosts other countries namely Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic and two Southern African countries; Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The competition which will serve as qualification for Africa/Euro group will see two countries join the elite group (Africa/Euro group).

Sporting Tribune reports that Nigeria qualified for Group III of the Davis Cup alongside Ghana, after a very amazing and scintillating run in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2023.

The President, Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Ifedayo Akindoju, while briefing the media at the Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, expressed optimism that Nigeria will get promoted to Group II stage based on quality of players that will be flying Nigeria’s flag at the competition.

The match format which will be in two singles and a double will see each team play five matches in round robin pool of six teams will hold from 16th to 21st July, 2024.

“We have been constant and regular in participation and we are growing and hopefully we are competing this time to get progressed. We don’t want to stay where we are. So we are very confident and believe that the quality of players and the progression that we have made so far, we should be able to get promoted to the Group II stage.

“Davis Cup is an event that is equivalent to the World Cup of tennis. That means it’s an event that is played all over the world. And there are different stages of this event. The event Nigeria is hosting this time is the qualifier for the Africa Group III stage and the fact sheets are out and six teams are participating in this event here in Abuja. Play will commence on Tuesday, 16th of July and will end on Saturday, 20th of July.

“The teams that are going to be competing here are as follows: Nigeria (host), Benin Republic, there is Ghana and there is Cote d’Ivoire. We equally have from the southern part of Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. From the fact sheets, three among the team members (countries) will get promoted to the Group II stage, one team will remain in (Group III) and two groups will be relegated to the Group IV stage.

“That is how the fact sheet explains it. There are not going to be any formal draws. They are going to be playing round robin pool of six teams, so each team will play five matches. And the format is that there are two singles and a double. At the end of the day, based on the performances of each team, the ranking will be published and the best three teams will be promoted, one team remains and then two teams will be relegated.

“Nigeria started playing Davis Cup since 1974 and we have played and progressed to the stage where we are trying to get now in the early 80s. Coaches Rotimi Akinloye and John Atiomo played during that time. So we are not new to this event,” Akindoju stated.

Speaking on the security arrangement on ground for the tournament, Akindoju said, “There are lot of security that are done. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has done that. They have their ways of doing it. They have lot of intelligence gathering. They did that before they allowed us to host this event.

“But locally, we had to sign some guarantees that participating in this event will not be exposed to any form of insecurity. Locally, we have done lot of work especially in securing the site. Firstly, securing the accommodation where the players are staying already and putting some form of control in the movement of people.

“We may not be able to give you the details because some things cannot be exposed. We are doing our best to make sure that property and lives are guaranteed and there will not be any issue throughout this event and beyond by God’s grace.”

Akindoju added that NTF is spending N100 million to host the event through grants from ITF and funds from sponsors.

Nigeria’s coach, Benson Ishicheli and one of the players, Christopher Bulus who spoke to Sporting Tribune, expressed confidence that Nigeria will progress to Group II stage at the end of hostilities. Other players that will be representing Nigeria are Wilson Igbinovia, Uche Oparaoji, Emmanuel Michael and Daniel Adeleye.

The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men’s tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is contested annually between teams from over 150 competing countries, making it the world’s largest annual team sporting competition.

It is described by the organisers as the “World Cup of Tennis”, and the winners are referred to as the World Champions. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Great Britain and the United States.