The Nigerian Volleyball Federation has officially announced the commencement of the 2026 National Volleyball League Division 1 and 2 competitions for both men and women, with matches scheduled to begin on May 24, 2026, at the Indoor Sports Hall and Outdoor Courts of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The competition, which will run from May 23 to June 5, 2026, was unveiled during a press conference held in Abuja on Saturday, ahead of the opening matches.
Speaking during the briefing, the Chairman of the League Management Committee of the NVBF and vice president of the federation admitted that the scheduling of the league had been difficult due to a congested international volleyball calendar and several unforeseen challenges.
He apologized to stakeholders in the volleyball community over the circumstances surrounding the fixing of the competition dates, noting that the federation found itself under pressure to align domestic competitions with international obligations.
According to him, Nigeria is participating in several international volleyball events within the next three months, including Olympic beach volleyball qualification tournaments, the Nations Cup, and championships scheduled to be held in Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya.
He explained that delaying the league further would have negatively affected Nigeria’s preparations for international tournaments.
The official disclosed that all participating teams had completed registration, with about 11 teams expected in Division 1 and seven teams in Division 2.
He stated that the league would run until the first week of June.
The federation also revealed that financial difficulties had greatly affected preparations for the competition.
According to the official, the federation initially planned to have completed almost two phases of the league by this period of the year, but setbacks including the loss of sponsors and the death of a key technical official disrupted those plans.
Despite the challenges, he commended the President of the federation, Musa Nimrod, and members of the board for personally funding the competition.
He stressed that the league remains vital to the development of volleyball in Nigeria, adding that the country has continued to produce players competing across Africa, Europe and Asia.
Responding to questions from journalists, the official also highlighted the federation’s commitment to anti-doping education.
He noted that the Nigerian Volleyball Federation is among the first sports federations in the country to begin anti-doping information dissemination for players and officials.
On funding and sponsorship, the federation appealed to corporate organisations and individuals to support the development of volleyball in Nigeria.
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The official revealed that the matches would be streamed live globally, providing sponsors with international exposure.
The federation further assured participating teams and spectators of adequate security, accommodation, medical support and welfare throughout the competition.
Officials disclosed that accommodation facilities had been arranged within walking distance of the playing venue, while medical personnel and a fully equipped clinic had also been put in place for emergencies and healthcare support during the championship.
Meanwhile, fixtures released for the opening day of the men’s Division 1 competition on May 24 include Kwara versus NIS, NSCDC versus Kada, KKI against Light, Bayelsa versus Katsina, and NAF taking on Rhino Volleyball Club.
