Ghana’s national women’s tennis team, the Diamond Rackets, departed for Gaborone, Botswana, today to compete in the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Africa Group III, with action set to begin on 13 July.
The tournament, widely regarded as the premier international team event in women’s tennis, brings together eleven African countries vying for promotion to Europe/Africa Group II in 2027.
The Competing countries are Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Zimbabwe
Tournament Format: One group of three teams, two groups of four, in a two-stage round-robin
Stakes: Top two countries promoted to Europe/Africa Group II (2027); bottom two relegated to Africa Group IV (2027)
Ghana’s status: Unseeded entrant
Ghana travels with a youthful and determined squad, led by experienced coach Bernard Ashitey Armaah, who has voiced confidence in his players’ preparation ahead of the continental test.
Although Ghana enters as one of the tournament’s unseeded sides, the players remain resolute in their ambition to challenge the continent’s established tennis nations and to showcase the steady progress made in Ghanaian women’s tennis in recent years.
In the build-up to the tournament, the Diamond Rackets undertook a week-long residential training camp in Accra, with sessions dedicated to technical development, tactical preparation, physical conditioning, mental resilience, and team bonding.
The residential training allowed us to work extensively on all aspects of our game without distractions. We know the competition will be tough, but we are prepared to compete with determination and pride.”Bernard Ashitey Armaah, Head Coach, Diamond Rackets
Ghana Tennis Federation President Isaac Aboagye Duah expressed profound gratitude to the GTF Board, corporate partners, foundations, parents, and individuals whose support made the team’s participation possible. He acknowledged that fundraising this year proved especially difficult, with corporate marketing budgets largely redirected toward the FIFA World Cup, in which Ghana featured.
Despite these challenges, our sponsors stood firmly behind Ghana Tennis, demonstrating their commitment to the development of women’s sports and tennis in Ghana.” Isaac Aboagye Duah, President, Ghana Tennis Federation
The Federation President was emphatic that Ghana’s unseeded status does not reflect the team’s ambitions.
Being unseeded does not diminish our ambition. Tennis is played on the court, not on paper. We believe our players have prepared well, possess tremendous fighting spirit and will compete with courage against every opponent.”Isaac Aboagye Duah, President, Ghana Tennis Federation
