Africa: Cameroon Promoted to Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III

20 July 2025
The New Times (Kigali)
By Alexis Kayinamura

Cameroon earned promotion to Billie Jean Kong Cup Africa Group III after finishing top of the Group IV tournament which closed in Kigali on Saturday, July 19.

The decisive playoff match saw Cameroon edge out Togo 2-1 to seal the group's top spot. Both nations had beaten Rwanda in their promotion playoff round, leaving Saturday's match between them to decide the winner of the tournament which was previously won by Algeria.

Cameroon accomplished their qualification mission with convincing wins in their singles matches which were enough to secure the promotion despite losing the doubles match.

First, Charnelle Fozo overpowered Ayawayi Dotse in two sets 6-2, 6-1 in the opening singles match before Karine Marion Job cemented Cameroon's unbeaten run by defeating Ami Diwiniga Grace Dougah 6-1, 6-1 in the second singles securing an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines

Although Togo managed to win in the doubles -- with Valentine Talaki and Ayawayi Dotse beating Cameroon's Serene Orphelia Nguimbis Ntove and Delisle Mananstop 6-3, 6-2 -- it was not enough to overturn the result.

"We came here with a mission and every player delivered when it mattered most. It's a great step for Cameroonian women's tennis," said Marion Job who didn't lose a single set throughout the campaign.

With the win, Cameroon will now compete in Africa Group III in 2026 while Togo will wait yet for next year to push for a promotion. They have finished in second place for the second time in a row in Kigali. In 2024, they lost qualification ticket to Algeria.

Meanwhile, Rwanda finished in third place, improving from a fifth-place finish in 2024.

Benin emerged fourth, followed by Senegal, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Sudan, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Congo Brazzaville.

This year's edition brought together 12 nations and marked the third consecutive year Rwanda hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group IV -- a tournament widely regarded as the premier women's team tennis event globally, structured in a group-stage format on the continent.

Read the original article on New Times.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2025 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.