Nigeria face a difficult task in their Davis Cup World Group II tie against Morocco after the hosts won both opening singles rubbers to establish a 2-0 lead in Rabat.

The Moroccan team made a commanding start on Saturday at the Club des Cheminots, with Karim Bennani and Yassine Dlimi both recording straight-set victories over their Nigerian opponents.  

Bennani opened proceedings against Canice Abua and produced a dominant display, defeating the Nigerian 6-1, 6-2 to give Morocco the first point of the tie.

Yassine Dlimi then doubled the hosts’ advantage with another 6-1, 6-2 victory, this time against Nigeria’s Abubakar Yusuf.

The two results have left Morocco just one victory away from securing the tie and progressing to the Davis Cup World Group I Play-offs scheduled for February 2027.  
After four failed attempts, Nigeria’s Davis Cup team, will this Saturday, seek to break a 30-year-old jinx against host Morocco in the 2026 Davis Cup World Group II tie.

The encounter in Rabat was historic, having lost all four previous Davis Cup encounters against Morocco. Nigeria secured promotion to the World Cup Group 11 for the first time in 30 years after the win over Uzbekistan in February this year in Lagos.

Speaking after his victory, Dlimi expressed satisfaction at contributing the second point and acknowledged the boost he received from Bennani’s performance in the opening rubber.

“I am very happy to win and give the team an important second point. Karim Bennani’s strong victory in the first match gave me a lot of motivation,” Dlimi said.  

Dlimi added that Morocco would approach Sunday’s remaining matches with the same level of concentration despite holding a two-point advantage.

The second day will begin with the doubles rubber before the final two singles matches, giving Nigeria an opportunity to fight back and extend the contest.

Nigeria had earned their place in World Group II after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Lagos in February, a result that marked their return to the level after three decades.  

The Nigerian team had prepared for the Morocco assignment in Lagos, with Canice Abua, Daniel Adeleye, Michael Emmanuel, Abubakar Yusuf, Lucky Danjuma and Franklin Jimoh among the players in camp under coach Benson Ishicheli.  

With Morocco now holding a 2-0 advantage, Nigeria must win the doubles rubber to keep the tie alive before attempting to force the contest into the decisive singles matches.