Kenya draw Mozambique, Ghana and Rwanda in Davis Cup Tournament

Kenya has been drawn in Group B against Mozambique, Ghana and neighbouring Rwanda ahead of the Africa Group III Davis Cup tennis tournament that serves off on Wednesday 11 to August 14 2021 at the Smash Tennis Academy in Cairo, Egypt.

As the team prepares to play Rwanda in their first match on Wednesday, Kenya will be bidding to finish among the top two teams out of the seven nations represented in the tourney. The top two nations in the tournament will advance from Africa Group III to contest the 2022 World Group II Play-offs where they will face opposition from other zones. The then winners of that playoff will move into Group II.

At the clay outdoor competition, Kenya will be represented by Ismael Changawa, Kevin Cheruiyot, Albert Njogu and Ibrahim Kibet with Derrick Ominde listed as the reserve player.

In an interview on The Star, Kenya’s top ranked player Changawa expressed confidence that the team is relishing the challenge of competing after losing the playoff last year to Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“The boys are determined to correct the errors of last year. We have trained well and we are looking forward to the competition. It is going to be tough but we are more than ready,” the player is quoted.

Team captain Francis Rogoi on the other hand revealed that he expected a tough test from hosts Egypt, Algeria and Rwanda who Kenya take on in the first game.

“We expect a stern test from those three nations. They have good players and coaches and it is going to be a tough fight for the top two slots,” he told the newspaper.

The seven nations competing in Africa Group III include Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Rwanda. The seven countries are drawn into two groups. One group has four teams and the other group has three teams. Pool A consists of hosts Egypt, Algeria and Benin after Madagascar withdrew from participating in the tournament.

Nations finishing in the top two of each group will play-off for promotion, with the winner of Group A facing the runner-up of Group B, and the winner of Group B facing the runner-up of Group A. The then winners of that playoff will move into Group II.