President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Musa Nimrod, has called for maximum support and commitment as the country’s men’s national volleyball team begins preparations for the 2026 African Nations Cup finals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The team secured its place at the continental showpiece, after a successful qualification campaign and will now battle Africa’s best for the coveted title and the continent’s sole qualification ticket to the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Speaking after the qualification on Friday, Nimrod stressed the importance of a united effort to ensure the team is fully prepared for the high-stakes tournament.
“We have to put all our resources together to achieve our objective,” he said.
According to him, preparations will enter a crucial phase in August when the players move into residential camp to sharpen their fitness, tactics, and overall readiness.
“Our preparations will intensify in August when the team moves into training camp. The camp will help the players reach peak fitness and ensure they are fully prepared for the challenge ahead,” Nimrod stated.
He acknowledged the magnitude of the task ahead, noting that the African Nations Cup also doubles as the qualification tournament for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“We know what is at stake because the tournament also serves as a qualification event for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. With only one qualification ticket available, we must do everything possible to give our team the best chance of securing it,” he said.
The NVBF president reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to providing the team with every necessary support to compete successfully on the continental stage.
“We remain optimistic and are committed to providing the support needed for the team to succeed,” he added.
Nimrod credited the team’s recent success to the federation’s sustained investment in grassroots and youth development, describing the current senior squad as a product of years of structured planning.
“Our current senior players are products of a successful youth development system. These players won back-to-back African Under-19 titles before progressing through the Under-21 level. They have grown together over the last six or seven years, and that continuity is now paying off.
“This is the true value of grassroots development. The best way to sustain success is to keep producing talented young players, which is why we are preparing another Under-19 team for the African Championship in Egypt next week,” he said.
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Reflecting on lessons from the past, Nimrod said the federation had deliberately avoided the mistakes that followed the 2003 All Africa Games by ensuring a seamless transition from age-grade teams to the senior national side.
“One of the biggest mistakes we made after the 2003 All Africa Games (COJA) was failing to replace the ageing generation of players. There was no proper transition. Today, that has changed. The boys who were once Under-19 players have now stepped into the senior national team, and they are energetic, talented, and performing well.
“We are confident they will continue to shine at the upcoming championship in Congo. When you build the youth, you build a nation. That is the foundation of lasting success,” Nimrod concluded.
