GABORONE – Hosts Botswana made a strong statement in their opening Davis Cup Africa Group V match with a clean 3–0 victory over Libya on Wednesday at the National Tennis Centre in Gaborone.
The win comes as Botswana look to put behind the disappointment of last year’s campaign, where they fell short of promotion to Division IV in a dramatic final.
Ntungamili Raguin got the home side off to a flying start with a 6–2, 6–0 win over Libya’s Ibrahim Shtiwe, followed by top-seeded Denzel Seetso who overcame Ahmed Mouhan 6–2, 6–3. In the doubles match, Mark Nawa and Tsholofelo Tsiang completed the rout with a 6–4, 6–3 win over Mouhan and Safwan El Zeyadi.
Botswana are placed in Group C alongside Libya, Ethiopia, and Congo. Ethiopia currently top the group after securing a 3–0 win over Congo, who had narrowly avoided relegation last year.
The hosts return to court today at 9:30 a.m. to face Congo. A second win would likely secure them a semi-final spot ahead of Friday’s key matchup with Ethiopia.
The top four teams from the round-robin stage will move on to the knockout round, with the two semi-final winners earning promotion to Division IV. Botswana, who finished runners-up in 2024 after Seetso lost a 5–0 lead in the final set against Gabon’s Herve Antchandie, are hoping for redemption this year.
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