Nigeria's Volleyball Team Qualifies for African Nations Cup

The Nigerian men's volleyball team secured a spot in the 2026 African Nations Cup by achieving a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Benin Republic during the Zone 3 qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The match, held on Friday, saw Benin initially take the first set 25-21 amidst controversial officiating.

However, Nigeria responded strongly, winning the second set 25-21 and dominating the remaining sets 25-15 and 25-20, which handed Benin their first defeat of the tournament. This win extended Nigeria's unbeaten run to four matches, having previously defeated Niger Republic 3-1, Côte d'Ivoire 3-0, and Togo 3-1.

Engin Musa Nimrod, the President of the Nigerian Volleyball Federation (NVBF), expressed gratitude for the media's support in promoting the sport and announced that preparations are underway for the country's U19 boys' national team ahead of upcoming competitions in Egypt. The NVBF is optimistic about the future of volleyball in Nigeria, with a concluding match against Burkina Faso scheduled for Saturday.