From 12 to 15 August 2026, Le Central Tennis Club in Abidjan became the epicenter of African women's tennis. Twelve nations gathered on the outdoor hard courts to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group IV. To accommodate the large field, the competition was divided into two distinct events—Zone A and Zone B—with teams battling across four intense days for just two available promotion tickets to Group III.

A Milestone for Côte d'Ivoire

This year’s edition held special significance, marking the very first time Côte d'Ivoire has hosted the Billie Jean King Cup. Bringing the premier international women's team competition to Abidjan was a major achievement for the local federation, showcasing their active commitment to elevating women's tennis in the region. The home crowds created a vibrant, competitive atmosphere that set the tone for the entire week.

Zone B: Benin Edges Out the Hosts in a Thriller
In Zone B, the narrative quickly centered on a collision course between Benin and the host nation. Côte d'Ivoire capitalized on their home-court advantage in Pool A, delivering back-to-back 3-0 sweeps against Rwanda and Mozambique. Meanwhile, Benin matched that exact standard of dominance in Pool B, shutting out both Ethiopia and Lesotho 3-0 to win their group.

The promotion play-off on Saturday delivered the ultimate showdown. Despite the vocal local support pushing the Ivorian team, Benin held their nerve to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Côte d'Ivoire, successfully punching their ticket to Group III.

Further down the Zone B standings, Ethiopia claimed a 2-0 win over Rwanda in the positional play-offs to take third place. Lesotho wrapped up their week by defeating Mozambique 2-1 to secure fifth place overall.

Zone A: Togo’s Flawless Run to the Top
Over in Zone A, Togo established themselves as the outright favorites right from the opening day. They completely controlled Pool A, registering unblemished 3-0 victories over both Congo and Seychelles. On the other side of the draw in Pool B, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had to fight much harder to advance, grinding out back-to-back 2-1 wins against Zambia and Tanzania.

When it came down to the decisive promotional play-off, Togo's momentum proved to be too much. They delivered a clinical 2-0 victory against the DRC to claim the tournament's second promotion spot.

In the remaining Zone A play-offs, Zambia earned a 2-0 win against Congo to secure third place, while Tanzania defeated Seychelles 2-0 to finish in fifth.

As the week wraps up, Benin and Togo will now begin preparing for the elevated competition of Africa Group III in 2027. For Côte d'Ivoire, despite missing out on promotion by the narrowest of margins, they can look back with immense pride on a successfully hosted tournament and a brilliant campaign on the court.

A massive congratulations to Benin and Togo for securing their well-deserved promotion. We also extend our deepest congratulations and gratitude to the host nation, Côte d'Ivoire, for staging such an excellent and unforgettable event. Finally, congratulations to all the participating nations for their hard work, competitive spirit, and contribution to a fantastic week of tennis.