Stakeholders Demand Volleyball, Handball in NSF 2026

Stakeholders have called for the return of volleyball and handball to the National Sports Festival (NSF) 2026, following their exclusion from the event. This decision was made during a recent meeting of the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Calabar, where the Director General, Bukola Olopade, cited economic realities as the reason for the omission.

Augustin Odumo, a Level 3 coach and assistant director of sport, described the exclusion as embarrassing and detrimental to the sports' image in Nigeria, emphasizing volleyball's historical significance as an Olympic sport. Musa Baba Musa, head coach of the senior men's national volleyball team, criticized the decision as insensitive, while Yusuf Abdulkadir, a handball coach, noted that handball has been a part of the NSF since 1979.

Stakeholders warned that the exclusion could harm athlete morale and reduce private investment in sports. Femi Daunemigha, representing the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, condemned the decision as a setback for the sport, which has not featured prominently in recent years.