S. OchiengBJK Cup 2023: Heartbreak for Kenya as Nigeria deny hosts top spot in Pool A
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 16.06.23. | 17:26
Kenya will now face Zimbabwe in the 3/4 playoff spot as Morocco battle Tunisia in the promotion playoff match on Saturday
Kenyans who thronged Nairobi Club on Friday to cheer on the team in their crucial group tie against Nigeria were left to deal with heartbreaking results as, the West Africans denied Kenya the chance to clinch top spot in Pool A, consequently ending their hopes of promotion to the Billie Jean King Cup Euro/Africa Group II.
With the tie evenly poised at 1-1, after Kenya had won the opening singles match and Nigeria responding by taking the second singles, it is Nigeria who ended up on the winning side as they won the doubles match to take the tie 2-1 overall.
Heartbreak for Kenya as Nigeria clinch the Doubles 6-1, 6-2 to win the overall tie 2-1 against the hosts, meaning Morocco finish on top courtesy of matches won (11) compared to Kenya's 9 after both teams tied on 4 points.#BillieJeanKingCupKe pic.twitter.com/s71I95Dsaz
— Ochieng' Stephen (@soo_ochieng) June 16, 2023
The results meant that top seeds Morocco would finish on top courtesy of matches won (11) compared to Kenya's 9 after both teams tied on 4 points with Nigeria, who also had the same number of points, finishing in third place due to their 7 wins.
Things had started off well for Team Kenya as Angella Okutoyi only needed 49 minutes to win the first Singles 6-2, 6-0.
Angella Okutoyi gets the job done after 49 minutes, winning 6-2, 6-0 against Nigeria's Adesuwa Osabuohien to give Kenya the advantage.
— Ochieng' Stephen (@soo_ochieng) June 16, 2023
We only need one more match to book our ticket to the promotion playoff match.#BillieJeanKingCupKe pic.twitter.com/XPI1YAPwS2
Nigeria leveled the tie when Barakat Oyinlomo took care of Cynthia Wanjala 6-0, 6-2 in fifty minutes, leaving Kenya with all the job to do.
Okutoyi partnered with Wanjala in the doubles but the Nigerian pair of Barakat and Divine Nweke proved a tough nut to crack as they powered to a 6-1, 6-2 victory to deliver the sucker punch to the team.
"We started the day really well with Okutoyi winning her Singles match. Barakat really turned up for Nigeria in the second Singles and she managed to get the job done for her side. We started slowly in the Doubles and they capitalized on that.
Heartbreak for Kenya as Nigeria clinch the Doubles 6-1, 6-2 to win the overall tie 2-1 against the hosts, meaning Morocco finish on top courtesy of matches won (11) compared to Kenya's 9 after both teams tied on 4 points.#BillieJeanKingCupKe pic.twitter.com/s71I95Dsaz
— Ochieng' Stephen (@soo_ochieng) June 16, 2023
This is the closest we have come to the promotion playoff match because we will now finish third or fourth compared to last year where we ended eleventh. We just now need to close the gap between the players because it is no secret that there is that gap between Okutoyi and the rest. Overall, good I am really proud and content of how we played," Team Kenya captain Francis Rogoi remarked.
Kenya will now face Zimbabwe in the 3/4 playoff spot as Morocco battle Tunisia in the promotion playoff match on Saturday.
Tunisia finished first in Pool B with Zimbabwe coming second.
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