By Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor,
Following a defeat to the host nation Tunisia, the Nigeria U21 Men’s Volleyball team has reignited their blistering campaign in the ongoing African U21 Men’s Nation’s Volleyball Championship in Tunisia by qualifying for the semi-finals.
On Friday, the resilient Nigeria U21 team shrugged off the defeat to the host to spank another North African side, Libya in a five-set thriller at the quarter-finals.
Nigeria in the first set defeated the Libyans 25-20 to trigger retaliation from the North African side in the second set where they tallied the scoreline with an 18-25 win.
Following the tally, while focused on their goal of seeking a podium finish and clinching a continental tourney, Nigeria repeated the first set’s result to lead the contest 2-1 which the Libyans U21 men’s team restored to parity with a 22-25 narrow win in the fourth set.
However, the high-spirited Nigeria U21 side, who have been technically equipped to see off the Libyans, vibrated outstandingly in the fifth round with a 15-8 win.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engr Musa Nimrod has praised the Nigeria U21 Men’s Volleyball team for cementing their place in the semi-finals.
Nimrod said the federation is astonished by the grits the players exhibited in the course of taming their opponent during the quarter-final clash.
According to the statement released by the federation, the President recalled that the players have broken the feat that seemed impossible four years ago when Nigeria hosted the same event.
“I want to commend the players for qualifying for the semifinals of the U21 Nation’s Championship in Tunisia,” Nimrod said.
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“When Nigeria hosted the U21 Nations Championship four years ago, we could not qualify for the next round. I am a happy man today that the team has surpassed their last outing,” he added.
The NVBF President noted that while processing the match, the Nigerian team demonstrated a high level of discipline, and grit despite chants from the intimidating crowd to see off the Libyans.
He, however, commended the coaching crew for doing a result-oriented tactical job that complemented the team’s quarter-final victory.
Nimrod said, “I monitored the match and all I could see were boys who were ready to make the nation proud. They exhibited a high level of discipline, maturity and resilience in the face of stiff opposition from the intimidating crowd.
“The coaching crew also showed their tactical abilities by winning the fifth set despite pressures,” the NVBF President underlined.
Moreover, Nimrod, who doubles as the Secretary General of Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone 3, charged the players to go all out in their semifinal match against the team that emerged from the contest between Cameroon/Egypt.
“Show no respect to any team in the semifinals; they may be good but we are better. The 2023 FIVB U21 Men’s Ticket is in your hands and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation will support you when you secure the ticket,” he added.
Nigeria U21 primary objective in the tournament is to secure a qualifying ticket to the FIVB World Cup.
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