Nigeria falls to Algeria, misses out on promotion

NIGERIA’S quest for promotion to the elite division was thwarted yesterday, as Sunday Emmanuel fell to Algeria in the second match of the ongoing Europe/Africa Zone Group III of the Davis Cup tournament.

After showing class against Rwanda on Wednesday, the Nigerians could not break the fighting power of the Algerians after Abdulmumini Babalola had put the team ahead in the first match, which ended 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 in favour of Nigeria. What ought to be a final wrap up for Nigeria was bundled by Emmanuel, who put every hand wrong to lose 6-2, 6-4 to the North Africans.

The final doubles game, which served as the decider, had every element expected, with the Nigerians taking the first set at 6-3. But the Algerians came back to level up in the second set that ended 7-5 in favour of the North Africans. The final set was tension-soaked, with both sides playing safe and it lasted for hours before the Algerians put the game to rest to emerge winner at 7-5.

With this, all that started well for Nigeria has now become history, as the team will still remain in the group in 2011 after missing out from the promotion slot. Nigeria had pounded Rwanda 3-0 in the first match of the championship on Wednesday.