By Rasaq Oboirien
Nigeria got promoted to the Davis Cup Africa Group III despite losing to archrival Ghana in the finals of the Group IV tournament that was concluded in Kigali on Saturday, at Kigali Ecology Tennis Club.
Group B pair Nigeria and hosts Rwanda booked tickets to play the semifinals joining Ghana and Kenya who finished in the top two in Group A.
The group stages games resulted in Nigeria vs Kenya and Ghana vs Rwanda promotional playoff matchups from which winners from each tie would earn a promotion to the Davis Cup Africa Group III.
Nigeria earned a Group III promotion after coming from behind to beat Ground A runners-up Kenya 2-1.
Kael Shalin Shah put Kenya ahead, beating David Ekpenyong 6-1 6-3 in the first match but Nigeria spoiled Kenyans’ party after Christopjer Bulus beat Ismael Mzai 6-0 6-1to tie the game 1-1 to let doubles game decide who advances.
Bulus and teammate, Wilson O. Igbinovia finished the business for Nigeria beating Kenya’s Keean Shah and Ibrahim Kibet 6-3 7-6 (4) to take home the win.
Ghanaians proved to be on a far more advanced level than the Rwandan team with the team dominating the hosts with a 3-0 victory in singles and doubles.
Isaac Nortey won the first match for Ghana after beating Junior Hakizumwami 2-0 (6-2, 6-2) before his teammate, Abraham Asaba secured a second 2-0 (6-1 6-3) victory against Ernest Habiyambere to cement Ghana’s promotion to the Davis Cup Africa Group III.
Ghanaian duo of Samuel Agbesi Osei Antwi and Isaac Nortey also defeated Rwanda’s Ernest Habiyambere and Joshua Muhire 2-1(4-6, 6-2, 6-2) in doubles to complete a hat trick win for the West Africans.
On the other side, Group B top ranked
Besides Ghana and Nigeria who will play Davis Cup Africa Group III in 2024, Mozambique and Botswana were relegated to the Group V after finishing in the bottom two rankings at the just-concluded tournament while Rwanda, Cameroon, Kenya and Angola stayed in Group IV.
The quartet was joined in Group IV by Burundi and DR Congo who finished in the top two of Davis Cup Africa Group V.