Kenya need only one more win to seal a dream promotion to the Billie Jean King Cup Europe/Africa Group II in 2026.
This is after the team thrashed Botswana 3-0 on Thursday in the Billie Jean King Cup 2025 Africa Group III promotion playoffs currently taking place at the Central Tennis Club in Windhoek, Namibia.
Having topped Group C to qualify for the playoffs alongside Morocco and Botswana, Kenya demonstrated its intent to clinch the single ticket available by dispatching Botswana.
Melissa Mwakha was once again relied upon in the opening Singles match and she got the job done with a straight-set 6-0, 7-5 win over Chelsea Chakanyuka in 1 hour 33 minutes.
Angella Okutoyi then battled to a thrilling 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5) victory over Ekua Youri in the second Singles match to secure Kenya’s win.
Okutoyi and Cynthia Wanjala then teamed up for the Doubles match and completed the sweep with a 6-3, 6-2 over Chakanyuka/Tshegofatso Tsiang.
The win gives Kenya the advantage ahead of their final match against Morocco set to take place on Saturday. Should they win that match, Kenya will be assured of promotion after coming close in the last two years.
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Angella Okutoyi calls on team focus in Billie Jean King Cup 2025
Kenya are playing the 2025 tournament on the back of consecutive third-place finishes in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the event which were both held at the Nairobi Club in Kenya.
Okutoyi, who won a historic Mixed Doubles Silver medal for Kenya at the 2025 FISU World University Games, called on the team to erase the past painful experiences and focus on the task ahead.
“I feel like we are ready and have been working hard to improve ourselves as individuals. We are confident that this time we can come out with a win and I just want all of us to trust in each other, take one day at a time and believe in our captain.
We just need to forget last year and think afresh about going into this tournament. I feel we needed a change and see how we are going to do.
It is sad that it is not at home but I feel like something different will be a good thing and it will be on hard court which I feel majority of us have been practicing on,” she told SportPesa Blog.
Billie Jean King Cup 2025 Africa Group III pools and format
Kenya have been pooled in Group C alongside Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Algeria.
Pool A is headlined by Morocco, relegated from Group II alongside Madagascar, Burundi and Namibia while Pool B has Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana and Uganda.
The 12 teams will compete in a round robin format between Monday 4 and Wednesday 6 before the winners of each pool play each other in a second round robin between Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 to determine final rankings.
The top team will be promoted to Europe/Africa Group II in 2026.
Nations finishing bottom of their pools (A4, B4, C4) also play each other in a second round robin, with the team finishing bottom of that pool then being relegated to Africa Group IV next year.