Nigeria’s women’s volleyball team on Monday, defeated Senegal 3-1 in a classification match for positions nine to 15 at the ongoing African Volleyball Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.
Key Highlights
- Nigeria wins 3-1
- Strong comeback after setback
- Nigeria records 10 aces
- 12 blocks secure victory
- Elam praises team confidence
The Nigerian side recovered strongly after losing the second set to secure an important victory and keep their hopes of finishing among the top teams in the classification stage alive.
Nigeria made an impressive start to the encounter, taking the opening set 25-17. Senegal, however, responded with a spirited performance in the second set, edging a closely contested battle 26-24 to level the match.
The Nigerian ladies bounced back emphatically in the third set, dominating Senegal 25-12 before sealing the victory with a 25-20 win in the fourth set.
Nigeria’s dominance was also evident in the match statistics, recording 10 aces compared to Senegal’s one. The Nigerian team also produced 12 blocks against five by their opponents.
In attack, Nigeria registered 44 kills, while Senegal managed 36. The Nigerian side also benefited from 34 errors committed by the Senegalese team.
Nigeria coach, Elishama Elam, described the victory as a major boost to his players’ confidence as they continue their campaign in Nairobi.
“The victory means a lot to the team. It gives us confidence and motivates us to continue improving so that we can put ourselves in a very good position. That is our prayer,” Elam said after the match.
The coach also praised the improvement shown by the Senegalese team, noting that the youthful side was gaining valuable experience as the competition progressed.
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“Of course, they have improved. They are a very youthful team, and they are picking up experience as they progress in the competition,” he said.
Elam explained that although both teams have players within a similar age range, Nigeria’s greater experience played an important role in the outcome of the competitive encounter.
“That is why we had a very good and competitive match. However, we give glory to God for giving us the victory,” he added.
The Nigerian coach also reserved special praise for Kenyan volleyball fans for their support and warm reception throughout the championship.
According to him, the Nigerian team has enjoyed a strong bond with the Kenyan supporters, who have continued to show affection for the players.
“We are very proud of them. One good thing about Kenyans is that they are an English-speaking country, and honestly, I don’t know how to appreciate them enough.
“They are actually in love with the Nigerian team, and we also give that love back to them. We appreciate the Kenyan people with all our hearts. Thank you.”
The 3-1 victory keeps Nigeria firmly in contention in the classification matches as the team continues its push for a strong finish at the African Volleyball Championship.
