Rabat – Morocco made a strong start to its Davis Cup World Group II tie against Nigeria, winning both singles matches on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead at the Railway Club courts in Rabat.
Karim Bennani opened the tie for Morocco with a dominant performance against Nigeria’s Kanis Abua, securing a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Bennani controlled the match from the beginning and gave the hosts an early advantage before Yassine Dlimi stepped onto the court for the second singles encounter.
Dlimi maintained Morocco’s momentum against Yusuf Abubakar, recording another straight-set victory by the same 6-1, 6-2 scoreline.
The two wins leave Morocco one victory away from completing the tie and advancing to the World Group I Play-offs, scheduled for February 2027.
Speaking to the press after his match, Dlimi expressed his satisfaction with the result and praised Bennani’s performance in the opening encounter.
“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.
The Moroccan player added that he focused on maintaining the same level of concentration throughout his match.
“I tried to maintain the same level of focus to finish the match. We have taken a big step, but we will approach tomorrow’s matches with the same seriousness to officially secure qualification,” he added.
Morocco will return to action on Sunday for the second day of the tie. The program will begin with the doubles match, followed by the two remaining singles encounters.
With a 2-0 advantage, Morocco needs just one more victory to secure the tie. The doubles match could therefore prove decisive, although Nigeria will still have an opportunity to extend the contest if it can claim the point.
The World Group II tie is being played on Moroccan soil, with the Railway Club in Rabat hosting the national team’s encounter with Nigeria.
A victory in the tie would secure Morocco’s place in the World Group I Play-offs in February 2027, bringing the team closer to competing at the next level of the Davis Cup competition.
