Nigeria has qualified for the 2026 African Volleyball Nations Cup. The tournament will hold in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from September 7 to 21. They secured their spot by beating Benin Republic 3-1 during the Zone 3 qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Friday.
In a match filled with tension and some questionable officiating, Benin Republic took the first set 25-21. But Nigeria quickly bounced back to win the second set 25-21. They then dominated the last two sets, winning 25-15 and 25-20. This victory marked Benin Republic's first loss in the tournament. For Nigeria, it extended their unbeaten streak in the qualifiers to four matches, following earlier wins against Niger Republic 3-1, Ivory Coast 3-0, and Togo 3-1.
Musa Nimrod, the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, expressed his happiness with how volleyball is developing in Nigeria. He noted Nigeria's qualification for the men's tournament in Congo and the women's team's qualification for a similar event in Kenya.
"We are delighted with the steady growth of volleyball in Nigeria. Our recent qualification for the competition in Congo and the qualification of our women’s team for Kenya are clear signs that the sport is moving in the right direction," Nimrod said.
He also mentioned that plans are in place for Nigeria’s Under-19 boys’ team as they prepare for an upcoming competition in Egypt. He asked for ongoing support as the federation works to tackle some remaining issues.
"As we continue our journey, preparations are underway for our U-19 Boys National Team ahead of their upcoming competition in Egypt. We ask for your prayers and support as we work to overcome a few remaining challenges. We are confident everything will fall into place," he said.
Nimrod praised the media for its role in promoting the sport. He said their efforts have helped the federation gain positive attention.
"On behalf of the Board of Administration of the Nigerian Volleyball Federation, I sincerely thank you all for your unwavering support and the excellent coverage you have given our activities. Your commitment to promoting volleyball in Nigeria has helped project the federation in a positive light, and we truly appreciate it," he said.
Nigeria will finish their Zone 3 qualifying campaign against Burkina Faso on Saturday.
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