Kenyans fall to Nigerians in Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III

Nigeria's Barakat Quadre and Adesuwa Osabuohien in their double match against Roselind Asumwa and Angela Okutoyi during the 62nd Edition of Billie Jean King Cup Group III Africa tournament at Nairobi Club on Thursday, June 13, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Thursday was a tough day in the office for Kenyans as they succumbed to a 2-1 loss to Nigeria in their best of three match of the ongoing Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III at Nairobi Club.

Having lost to Nigeria last year in the same competition, Kenyans once again failed to break the West Africans despite fighting tooth and nail in a must win doubles encounter. The loss dented Kenya’s impressive run and dimmed their hopes of securing a promotion to Group II.

However, team Kenya coach Francis Rogoi remained optimistic saying that Kenya still has a chance to secure the promotion.

“It is just a tough day of sport like any other, we went down 1-0 in the first rubber, got back in the game and levelled the score in the second match. We had challenges in the doubles rubber, there was pressure and we made mistakes leading to the outcome,” Rogoi said.

He added that being a round robin contest the battle is not over until the last match is played.

“We are not out; our focus is now on the Saturday game. We want to recover well and be ready to face South Africa.”

Unlike the group matches where Cynthia Cheruto was tasked with opening the court for Kenya, coach Rogoi settled on Alicia Owegi to tackle Barakat Oyinlomo.

A day to forget would best describe Owegi’s show as sleek Barakat totally outplayed her and dominated the match from the onset.

Not even coach Rogoi's instructions in between the games would help Owegi regain her footing and tame the Nigerian. 

Owegi struggled throughout the match losing the first set without a reply to Barakat who was more composed and hungrier for victory.

With just one set away from a 1-0, the Nigerian showed no respect for her hosts, punishing Owegi who seemed not well prepared for the clash to snatch the victory 6-1.

Okutoyi would restore smiles on the faces of Kenyans in the second rubber as she leveled the score 1-1 to set the stage for a decisive doubles encounter.

Okutoyi dominated Nigeria's Adesuwa Osabuohien giving her little or no time to recover as she won games at will.

She took a 3-1 lead in the first set before Adesuwa won the fifth game to reduce the deficit.

Okutoyi would fight on to take the first set 6-3 as the Nigerian struggled to contain her. 

The African Games champions would outshine Adesuwa in the second set to seal the win by the same margin and give Kenya a lifeline in the promotion battle. 

Coach Rogoi would pair Okutoyi and her sister Roselida Asumwa to take on the Nigerian duo of Barakat and Adesuwa.

The Nigerians took the first set 6-3 before the Kenyans recovered to snatch the second set with the Nigerians breaking the tie to seal the victory.