The Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) has announced that Team Nigeria will participate in the 2026 U-18 Africa Hockey 5s Championship, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 6 to 8.
The continental championship will feature some of Africa’s brightest young hockey talents, providing a platform for emerging players to gain international experience and compete for honours at the youth level.
Nigeria will be represented by a 26-member delegation comprising 20 players—10 male and 10 female—as well as coaches and technical officials. The athletes have undergone intensive preparations ahead of the tournament.
Speaking ahead of the team’s departure, NHF President, Engr. Simon Nkom on Sunday via a statement, expressed confidence in the readiness of both teams to compete strongly and make Nigeria proud.
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He described the championship as an important opportunity for the country’s young hockey players to test themselves against the continent’s best while gaining valuable international exposure.
“The U-18 Africa Hockey 5s Championship is a significant opportunity for our young athletes to test their skills against the best on the continent and gain valuable international exposure. We are optimistic that both our male and female teams will compete with determination, discipline and the resilience that Nigerian athletes are known for,” Nkom said.
He added that the tournament reflects the steady growth of grassroots hockey in Nigeria and the federation’s commitment to developing young talents capable of excelling on the international stage.
Beyond the battle for continental honours, the championship also serves as a qualification event for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup, scheduled to be held in Cairo, Egypt, in December 2026. The champions and runners-up in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will qualify to represent Africa at the global tournament.
According to the NHF, Nigeria’s participation underscores its long-term strategy of strengthening the country’s presence in African and world hockey through sustained investment in youth development.
The federation also acknowledged the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC), parents, sponsors and hockey stakeholders whose contributions have made the team’s participation possible.
As the young athletes depart for Nairobi, the NHF has called on Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to support Team Nigeria as they seek to secure qualification for the Hockey5s World Cup and bring continental glory to the country.
