By Adeolu Johnson
International Tennis Federation (ITF) has revealed Nigeria’s likely opponents in the Davis Cup World Group II playoffs scheduled for January/February 2025.
ITF confirmed that the draws would be held on Monday, 7 October 2024, at the ITF Offices in London by noon local time.
A post on the Davis Cup website reads: “Two nations who lost World Group II ties in September (and would have competed in the 2025 World Group II Play-offs) will compete in the World Group I Play-offs.
Four nations who failed to win promotion from regional Group III events (and would have not played again until the 2025 Group III events) will now contest the World Group II Play-offs next year.
“Winning nations from the 2025 World Group I Play-offs will compete in World Group I ties in September alongside the losing nations from the 2025 Qualifiers first round.
Losing nations from the 2025 World Group I Play-offs and winning nations from the 2025 World Group II Play-offs will compete in World Group II ties in September.
“Losing nations from the 2025 World Group II Play-offs will compete in regional Group III events later in the year”.
Nigeria’s likely opponents may be Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland (3) Morocco (4) South Africa (5) El Salvador (6) Hong Kong, China (7) Estonia (8) Bolivia (9) Slovenia (10) China, P.R. (11) Paraguay (12) Thailand (13).
The 2025 competition structure requires two additional teams in the World Group I Play-offs. Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand and Pakistan are all ranked 46= in the latest Davis Cup Nations Rankings and are the highest-ranked losing nations in 2024 World Group II.
Lots will be drawn to determine which two nations will be elevated to the 2025 World Group I Play-offs. The 2025 competition structure requires four additional teams in the World Group II Play-offs.
Benin, Indonesia, Jamaica and Moldova were the highest-ranked nations not to win promotion at each of the four 2024 regional Group III events. Nigerians will be eager to know which team the Davis Cup team will be facing come 2025 as preparations will hit top gear as soon as the draws have been completed.