Morocco ended Nigeria’s run in the Davis Cup World Group II with a 4-0 defeat in their tie at the Railway Club courts in Rabat on Sunday.
The hosts completed the victory on Sunday with two more victories after taking a commanding 2-0 lead on Saturday, with Bennani and Dlimi winning their respective singles matches.
Karim Bennani opened the tie with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Canice Abua before Yassine Dlimi produced an identical 6-1, 6-2 result against Yusuf Abubakar to put Morocco in control of the tie.
Sunday’s programme featured the doubles before the reverse singles, with Nigeria’s Michael Emmanuel and Yusuf Abubakar facing Morocco’s Younes Lalami and Dlimi.
The doubles rubber ended 6-3, 6-2 in favour of the hosts, ultimately sealing their win before Amine Jamji beat Emmanuel 6-3, 6-4 in the reverse singles.
Nigeria’s defeat brings an end to their campaign at the World Group II level after they earned promotion in February by beating Uzbekistan 3-1 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
The promotion marked the highest level Nigeria had reached in the Davis Cup.
Their preparations for the Morocco tie, however, suffered setbacks following the withdrawal of Adeleye due to injury, while Seun Ogunsakin also pulled out over conditioning concerns.
Morocco’s victory earns them a place in the 2027 World Group I Play-offs, while Nigeria will remain in World Group II play-offs ahead of next year.
The defeat also extended Nigeria’s wait for a first Davis Cup victory over Morocco, having lost their previous four meetings since 1973.
