The Nigerian team in camp for the fast approaching Davis Cup World Group II Playoffs against Uzbekistan have lauded the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) over the prompt payment of their allowances.
The players, eight of them, and the Coach, Benson Ishicheli, formally kicked off preparations for the competition when they resumed training on Wednesday, 21 January, 2026, inside the tennis section of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Nigeria Tennis Live reports that the players have been holding daily morning and evening training sessions, under the guidance of vastly experienced Coach Benson.
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After one of those training sessions, the players, drawn from Abuja, Enugu and Lagos, spoke to our correspondent, detailing how the federation has treated them since the camp was opened last week.
Uche Oparaoji, who is about the most experienced player on the team, noted that the camping has been quite different from his previous experiences, stating specifically, that the players have been particularly happy with the welfare package for them.
“Have you not noticed that the boys look very happy and excited to come around every single day?” Oparaoji began, while speaking on behalf of the boys. “It’s because of how the NTF has handled the welfare of the players. We were given proper feeding allowance for the ten-day camping period as well as a really nice hotel.
“We also got paid our transport fare from our respective destinations to Lagos, which is a really nice gesture by the Federation,” the former Nigerian number one player, fondly called Lefty informed Nigeria Tennis Live.
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Speaking also, Coach Benson was full of accolades for the NTF, describing the latest development as a very encouraging way to start for the new board of the NTF.
According to him: “I recommended that all the players get new shoes for training, and the federation bought new shoes for all of them for this camping period. It is actually very commendable and impressive.
“Like the players, I have also gotten my feeding allowance, and I have been staying at the hotel designated for the team since we started this camping.
“It is, hopefully, a sign of really good things to come for the new board of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, and a good way to encourage the players to give their best on the court when called upon”.
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The Nigerian team (ranked 74) will be hoping to defeat Uzbekistan, ranked 49 in the world, when both countries meet on the centre court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos on 7 & 8 February, 2026.
Coach Benson is also expected to release the final list of players by Monday, ahead of the arrival of team from Uzbekistan, as Nigeria intensify preparations ahead of the showdown.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep all our readers updated on latest developments from the Davis Cup preparations as they unfold.