Tag: Uzbekistan

Italian Fabio Cannavaro will coach Uzbekistan as they prepare for their first World Cup next year, the Central Asian nation’s soccer association said on Monday.

Cannavaro won the World Cup with Italy as a player, captaining his country to the title in 2006, but his record as a coach is more mixed.

His most recent job was with Dinamo Zagreb but that was a short-lived spell of less than four months that ended in April.

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“The Uzbekistan Football Association has signed a contract with Fabio Cannavaro — a renowned specialist, one of the best defenders of his generation,” the statement said.

The 52-year-old has previously had coaching roles with clubs in China and Saudi Arabia as well as in Italy. He also had a short spell as caretaker manager of China in 2019.

He will succeed Timur Kapadze, who was in charge in June when the Central Asian country qualified for the World Cup for the first time.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed that Nigeria will face Uzbekistan in the 2026 Davis Cup World Group II Playoffs, set for February 6–8, 2026.

Nigeria booked its place in the playoffs after an impressive outing at the Africa Group III competition in Harare, Zimbabwe, where the team earned promotion alongside Namibia and Senegal.

Standing in their way is Uzbekistan, the top seed in the playoff draw and currently ranked No. 49 in the Davis Cup standings. Known for their consistency and pedigree on the global stage, the Central Asians represent a major test for Team Nigeria.

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Despite the daunting challenge, the Nigeria Tennis Federation remains confident, pointing to the players’ steady improvement and growing confidence on the continental front.

Playing at home is also expected to be a significant advantage, with crowd support and familiar conditions likely to boost Nigeria’s chances.

Victory would hand Nigeria a historic berth in the World Group II proper — a first since the competition’s restructuring.

The ITF is expected to announce the venue and surface for the tie in the coming weeks.