Morocco ended Nigeria’s Davis Cup World Group II campaign with a comprehensive 4-0 victory in their tie at the Railway Club courts in Rabat on Sunday.

The hosts, who took a commanding 2-0 lead from Saturday’s opening singles, completed the whitewash by winning the doubles and reverse singles on the second day. 

Karim Bennani set Morocco on course with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Nigeria’s Canice Abua in the opening singles before Yassine Dlimi produced an identical 6-1, 6-2 result against Yusuf Abubakar.

With Nigeria needing to win the doubles to remain in contention, Michael Emmanuel and Yusuf Abubakar faced Morocco’s Younes Lalami and Dlimi on Sunday.

However, the Moroccan pair maintained their dominance, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory to seal the tie for the hosts.

Amine Jamji then completed Morocco’s 4-0 triumph by defeating Nigeria’s Michael Emmanuel 6-3, 6-4 in the reverse singles. 

The result brought Nigeria’s World Group II campaign to an end after the country had secured promotion in February with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

That promotion represented Nigeria’s highest-ever position in the Davis Cup structure, making the Morocco tie a significant test for the Nigerian team. 

Nigeria’s preparations for the Rabat contest were also affected by player withdrawals, with David Adeleye ruled out through injury and Seun Ogunsakin withdrawing over conditioning concerns. 

Morocco’s victory earns the hosts a place in the 2027 World Group I Play-offs, while Nigeria will continue in the World Group II Play-offs next year.

The defeat also means Nigeria will have to wait longer for a first Davis Cup victory over Morocco, having now lost all five meetings between the two nations since their rivalry began in 1973. 

Despite the setback, Nigeria’s promotion earlier in the year marked an important milestone for the country’s men’s tennis, with the team having reached World Group II for the first time in 30 years.