Nigeria’s Davis Cup World Group II campaign ended with a 4-0 defeat to Morocco in Rabat. The hosts won both singles matches on Saturday, then took the doubles and final singles on Sunday to complete the result.
Karim Bennani gave Morocco the opening point with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Canice Abua. Yassine Dlimi followed with the same score against Yusuf Abubakar, leaving Nigeria needing to win Sunday’s doubles to keep the tie alive.
Abubakar partnered Michael Emmanuel against Dlimi and Younes Lalami, but the Moroccan pair won 6-3, 6-2 to settle the contest. Amine Jamji then beat Emmanuel 6-3, 6-4 in the remaining singles match.
The defeat is a disappointing end to a campaign that began with Nigeria beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Lagos in February. That victory earned the team a place at this level, but Morocco proved too strong in Rabat. Nigeria were also without Daniel Adeleye, who was injured, and Seun Ogunsakin, who did not make the trip.
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Morocco advance to the 2027 World Group I playoffs. Nigeria will return to the World Group II playoffs next year.
Former Nigerian player Sadiq Abdullahi said the result should prompt a closer look at how often the country’s players face strong opposition. “What Nigerian tennis lacks most is not talent. It is enough quality competition and exposure,” he said. It is a concern Nigeria will have time to address before its next tie.
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