No be small matter o! Team Nigeria don step up their game as dem prepare for Davis Cup World Group II wey go happen for Lagos this February 7–8. Dem don relocate their training camp from National Stadium for Surulere go Lagos Lawn Tennis Club for Onikan, where dem go battle Uzbekistan. This Davis Cup na di biggest men’s team tennis wahala wey dey organise by di International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Naija team don dey camp since January 21, dey train well-well before dem carry dem waka go the main venue. The Uzbeks self don land Lagos and dem don dey shine their skills since Monday. Dem come with three players and four officials, plus dem top player, Khumoyun Sultanov, wey just finish win ITF M15 tournament for Kuwait. This guy, e dey hot as e don reach second round of Australian Open qualifiers for 2025 and e get ATP ranking wey touch 216!
For our side, our captain, Daniel Adeleye, go lead di Naija boys go face di Uzbeks. E go team up with Canice Abua and Michael Emmanuel wey sabi the racket well-well. Uche Oparaoji don return to the squad, and Abubakar Yusuf dey go catch im first taste for Davis Cup after e don represent Naija for di Africa Games before.
Dis encounter no be play-play matter o! Na five rubbers go dey played: four singles and one doubles. Naija dey hope say dem fit upset Uzbekistan, wey dey rank 49 for di world, while we dey hold 74. Dis match suppose be serious battle for center court of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.
Victor Ochei, wey be President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, don talk say to host dis kind event na big statement for where Nigeria dey for international tennis. E gree be say: “Dis hosting show say Nigeria dey rise for global tennis after so many consistent performances.” E still talk say di National Sports Commission dey provide serious support to ensure say everything dey go well for di event.
To make sure say everything dey sorted, dem don gather 15-member Central Planning Committee, wey Victor Hembah dey lead, plus ITF, National Sports Commission, Lagos State Government, security agencies, and di host club dey work together. Na so dem go make sure say venue ready and set to shine for dis big weekend.
Dr Adeyinka Adewusi, wey be President of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, don assure evribodi say dem dey fully prepared to host di Davis Cup tie with all di razzmatazz wey e deserve. Naija fans dey expect plenty action and drama for this weekend. E fit be the time wey we go show di world say we sabi tennis too!
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