Nigeria set to begin 8 Championship campaign, eye Olympic Qualification

Nigeria will begin their quest for continental honours when the senior men’s volleyball team takes to the court at the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in Tunisia, with the ultimate target of reaching the final in Tunis.

The Nigerian team has been drawn in Group C alongside Algeria and Chad, with their opening fixture against Chad scheduled for Wednesday, 16 September. The championship began on Monday and will also serve as an important qualification pathway towards the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States.

Head coach Ryan Masajedi has assembled a 14-man squad for the continental battle, selecting two setters, two opposites, two liberos, four outside hitters, and four middle blockers.

Two new players have also made the final roster announced by Masajedi, who heads a technical crew that includes Taiwo Oladipupo as first assistant coach and Jonah Adamu as second assistant.

Bruno Ibeh and Adeniyi Favour will provide options at setter, while Armstrong Udoka and Okonkwo Ebuka have been selected as the two opposites.

The outside-hitting department features Ogunshina Obayemi, Emmanuel Udah, Faruk Lucky and team captain Abdulquadri Jaiyeola.

Abednego Hassan and Tiamiyu Ismail complete the squad as the two liberos, while Anele Timothy, Pascal Ozokoye, Kaseem Mutiu and Army Ferdinand make up the four middle blockers.

Nigeria secured their place at the championship through the CAVB qualification process, with the competition bringing together 13 men’s teams after Zimbabwe’s withdrawal, and carrying significance beyond the battle for the continental title, as it also opens the road towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and the 2027 FIVB World Championship.

The Nigerians will therefore have plenty at stake when they face Chad before turning their attention to Algeria in Group C.

Masajedi, speaking ahead of the game, has already stressed the need for his players to approach the tournament with the right mentality and avoid underestimating any opponent.

“The first task before us is to scale through the group stage and then wait for our opponent in the next round. We will not underrate any team in our group because they are equally at the championship to make a statement,” he said.

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Nigeria finished seventh at the 2021 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in Rwanda after defeating DR Congo 3-0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-22) in the classification match, but missed the 2023 edition.

With the continental crown and a route towards Olympic qualification at stake, Masajedi’s charges will now look to write a new chapter for Nigerian volleyball when they begin their campaign against Chad in Tunisia.