Sports

Davis Cup 2027: Nigeria Handed Tough Away Trip To El Salvador In World Group II Play-Offs

Published

4 days ago

September 29, 2026

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria will travel to Central America to face El Salvador in the 2027 Davis Cup by Generali World Group II Play-offs.

The draw was conducted on Monday, September 28 at the World Tennis offices in London, where 52 nations learned their fate across 26 home-and-away ties scheduled for 5-7 February, 2027.

Nigeria, one of the unseeded nations in the pot, were drawn against 5th seeds El Salvador. El Salvador will have the choice of ground, with the choice decided by lot.

It is a crucial tie for Nigeria, who dropped into the Play-offs after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Morocco in Rabat in their World Group II tie on September 19-20.

That result in Rabat ended Nigeria’s push for a place in the 2027 World Group I Play-offs and left Captain Benson Ishicheli’s side needing to win in February to retain their World Group II status for the rest of the season.

The format is straightforward, 13 winning nations from the Play-offs will advance to compete in World Group II in September 2027, while the 13 losers will be relegated to Regional Group III events.

Nigeria had earlier this year ended a three-decade wait to reach World Group II for the first time, after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Lagos in February. That victory was powered by Daniel Adeleye’s two singles wins and the doubles win from the pair of Canice Abua and Michael Emmanuel.

Now the team faces a completely different test – a long away trip to the Americas against an El Salvador side ranked inside the top 60 and backed by home advantage and likely clay courts.

El Salvador, who also lost their last World Group II tie, will be desperate to defend home turf. For Nigeria, the four-month window offers time to regroup, address singles depth, and sharpen doubles chemistry – often the decisive rubber in Davis Cup ties played in a best-of-five, best-of-three-sets format.

The Nigeria Tennis Federation is expected to announce its final squad and preparations early, with the tie set to be a defining moment in Nigeria’s recent resurgence on the Davis Cup stage.

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Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

13 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

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