Nigeria’s women’s volleyball team pulled off an amazing comeback to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2 in their 9th-12th classification match at the 2026 African Women’s Volleyball Championship in Nairobi, Kenya. Head coach Elishama Elam praised the team’s fighting spirit, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
The Nigerians looked like they would lose after dropping the first two sets 25-20 and 25-22. But they rallied back to win the third set 25-21 and then dominated the fourth set 25-13 to tie the match.
In the final set, Nigeria stayed calm under pressure and edged DR Congo 15-13 to complete the comeback.
After the win, Elam shared his joy about the players’ resilience. He said the result showed the true character of the Nigerian team.
"I feel so great, and I’m happy to be a Nigerian. We never say die," Elam said.
The coach also credited their strong comeback to determination and faith. He thanked God for helping the team get through the tough start.
"We give God all the glory because, obviously, this is the Nigerian spirit that keeps us going. We thank God because He did it for us," he said.
Even with this victory, Elam cautioned his players not to be complacent as they get ready for their final classification match of the championship.
"We will approach it with the same determination. Since it is going to be our last match, we will ensure that we give the last drop of our sweat on this court. We will give everything we have," he said.
This win boosts Nigeria’s confidence as they prepare for their final game of the championship after showing the strength to bounce back from being two sets down.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇