Nigeria’s tennis number two, Canice Abua, has credited the passionate support of home fans for inspiring the national team’s historic Davis Cup success in Lagos.
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Nigeria defeated Uzbekistan 3–1 in the Davis Cup World Group II playoff held at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club 1895 over the weekend, sealing qualification for the main World Group II stage.
Speaking after the victory, Abua expressed gratitude to Nigerians for creating a strong home advantage that lifted the team throughout the tie.
“I just want to give a big shout-out to the country as a whole and to the crowd for making this happen,” Abua said.
“The supporters did a very good job, and their energy really kept us going.” Abua told Sports247.
The Abuja-based player described the qualification as a landmark moment for Nigerian tennis, noting that the team rose to the occasion despite facing highly ranked opponents.
“This is history for us,” he added. “We went into the matches with a clear game plan and nothing to lose.
Uzbekistan have very strong players, but we believed in ourselves and the outcome was good.”
Abua also acknowledged the role of teamwork and tactics, particularly in the doubles match, which proved decisive in the tie.
“Our use of the court and our tactics really helped us, especially in the doubles,” he explained. “That was a key factor, and it’s something we’ll continue to build on.”
Looking ahead to the World Group II main stage, Abua warned that tougher challenges lie ahead but promised that the team would raise its level.
“They should expect more from us,” he said. “The next stage will have stronger opponents, so we’ll put in more work and give our best.”
Abua concluded by thanking the Nigeria Tennis Federation and the team’s sponsors for their support, stressing that the achievement was a collective effort.
“We’re grateful to the federation and the sponsors,” he said.
“This victory shows what Nigerian tennis can achieve, and we’re proud to represent the country.”
