Nigeria’s men’s tennis team has recorded a historic milestone after defeating Uzbekistan 3–1 in their Davis Cup tie held in Lagos, earning promotion to World Group 2. The victory marks Nigeria’s return to the upper levels of the global tennis competition for the first time since the early 1990s, ending decades outside the top divisions of the tournament.

The decisive moment came in the doubles match, where Canice Abua and Michael Emmanuel delivered a solid performance to defeat Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin and Khumoyun Sultanov 7–6, 6–4. Their win, achieved in front of an energetic home crowd, gave Nigeria a commanding edge and underlined the team’s growing confidence and unity on court.

Earlier, Daniel Adeleye strengthened Nigeria’s position with an impressive singles victory over Khumoyun Sultanov, winning 6–3, 6–4. The young player showed composure and control, breaking serve at key moments to secure the point. Adeleye later described his progress as the result of long-term preparation, discipline and exposure to international tournaments, adding that representing Nigeria gives him extra motivation.

Reacting to the achievement, Nigeria Tennis Federation president Victor Ochei praised the players for proving their quality against a stronger-on-paper opponent. He said the promotion reflects years of effort and signals a brighter future for tennis in the country. With World Group 2 secured, Nigeria now has a clear pathway to challenge for promotion to World Group 1 later this year.