The first phase of the 2026 Nigeria Volleyball Division 1 and 2 League ended on an exciting note at the indoor sports hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with Light Spikers capping off a sensational unbeaten run by defeating Rhino Spikers in a thrilling final match of the championship.
Key Highlights:
- 2026 Nigeria Volleyball Division 1 and 2 League ended in Abuja with Light Spikers remaining unbeaten.
- Light Spikers defeated Rhino Spikers 3-1 in the final match after losing the first set.
- Other winners on the final day included Sword VC, NAF Rockets, and Kada Kings.
- Officials praised the tournament’s quality, emerging talents, and smooth officiating.
- Attention now shifts to the second phase, where teams will compete for promotion and honors.
The competition, which brought together some of Nigeria’s emerging volleyball talents, delivered high-quality action and impressive performances, leaving officials optimistic about the future of the sport in the country.
The final day featured five entertaining matches, beginning with Sword Volleyball Club’s straight-set victory over Katsina United. Sword VC dominated the encounter, winning 25-21, 25-21, 27-25.
Katsina United returned to the court in the second match but again fell in straight sets, this time to NAF Rockets, who secured a convincing 25-23, 25-11, 25-14 victory.
In the third fixture, Kada Kings overcame a spirited challenge from the Nigeria Immigration Service to record a 3-1 win. After taking the opening set 25-21, Kada Kings dropped the second set 22-25 before regrouping to claim the next two sets 25-21 and 25-22.
Sword VC completed a successful outing in their second match of the day, defeating Adamawa Spikers 3-0 with identical scores of 25-21, 25-21, 27-25.
However, the biggest attraction of the day came in the fifth and final match as Light Spikers squared off against Rhino Spikers in a contest that lived up to expectations.
Rhino Spikers started strongly, taking the opening set 25-15 and threatening to end Light Spikers’ unbeaten run. But the determined Light Spikers responded impressively, winning the next three sets 25-17, 25-18 and 25-23 to seal a memorable 3-1 victory.
The result completed an extraordinary first phase for Light Spikers, who maintained an unbeaten record and reinforced their credentials as one of the teams to watch ahead of the second phase of the league.
Speaking after the victory, Light Spikers official, Ufman Mohammed, expressed gratitude for the team’s achievements while reflecting on their journey from underdogs to title contenders.
According to him, the team had been underestimated when they first appeared at the Abuja Challenge competition, but remained confident of making a strong return.
“We have nothing to say other than to thank God. It has not been easy. When we started at the Abuja Challenge, people saw us as underdogs. After that tournament, I told them to wait for our return,” he said.
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Mohammed noted that the team enjoyed an impressive campaign in Division Two, where only Plateau Rocks managed to take a set from them.
He added that despite suffering a few setbacks during the current competition, the team showed resilience and determination to maintain its dominance.
Looking ahead, he stressed the need for further improvement.
“We have to reinforce and go back to the drawing board. We need to see where we are lagging and improve. When we knew Rhino Spikers would be our last opponents, we knew it would not be easy because they also gave us a tough time during the Division Two competition in Abia.
“We had some issues at the beginning of the match, but we corrected them and came back strongly. Ahead of the second phase, we need to reinforce the team, train harder and work on our weaknesses,” he added.
The Chairman of the Control Committee for the 2026 National Division 1 and 2 Volleyball Championship, Navy Captain Mark Abashi, described the tournament as one of the best editions in recent years.
Abashi praised the quality of play and highlighted the emergence of several promising talents capable of representing Nigeria at higher levels.
“This year’s volleyball event seems to be the best. We have made some good discoveries, and many players have shown their prowess in the game. We have discovered new players in this tournament who can make the country proud.
“I believe that in the second phase, the teams will continue to improve and compete strongly for promotion to the National Premier League,” he said.
The control committee chairman also commended match officials for their professionalism throughout the competition.
“There were no major challenges. We did not receive complaints about officiating because the officials were on top of their responsibilities throughout the championship,” he stated.
Also speaking after the tournament, one of Nigeria’s leading volleyball referees and a member of the control committee, Sheba Jefferson, praised the significant progress recorded in Nigerian volleyball.
“Volleyball has grown tremendously compared to what we used to see in the past. The players have improved, the coaches have improved and the team managers have also improved.
“Even the officiating was superb because there were no issues concerning refereeing, and that makes me very happy,” she said.
Jefferson also applauded the growing participation of women in the sport, pointing to the emergence of new teams and talents in the female category.
“It is a very good development. Young women are beginning to understand the importance of sports and are embracing volleyball as a positive path for their future. I am an advocate for women in sports, and I am happy with the progress we are seeing.
“The new women’s teams have developed significantly, and I believe there will be many surprises when the second phase begins,” she added.
On the remarkable consistency shown by the Light Spikers, Jefferson attributed the team’s success to proper preparation and determination.
“It depends on their determination, preparation and mentality. Preparation is very important, and coaches must continue to work on endurance. If they maintain that approach, I believe they can reach the final,” she said.
The first Nigerian female international referee further revealed that officials are preparing to implement and perfect several new rules during the second phase of the league.
With the first phase now concluded, attention shifts to the next stage of the competition, where teams will battle for promotion, honours and opportunities to establish themselves among Nigeria’s elite volleyball clubs.
The performances witnessed in Abuja have already provided a glimpse of an exciting future for the sport, with emerging stars and ambitious teams ready to make their mark.
