Nigeria has secured qualification for the 2026 African Nations Championship set to take place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from September 7 to 21, 2026, Trybal News reports.
The Nigerian team booked their place at the continental showpiece after defeating Being Republic 3-1 at the ongoing African Nations Championship Zone 3 Qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Friday.
Benin Republic took the opening set 25-21 in a closely contested encounter that was overshadowed by controversial officiating decisions. However, Nigeria responded strongly to claim the second set by the same scoreline, levelling the match at 1-1.
The Nigerians carried their momentum into the remaining sets, dominating proceedings to win 25-15 and 25-20 and complete an impressive comeback victory.
The result handed Benin Republic their first defeat of the tournament while extending Nigeria’s unbeaten run in the qualifiers to four matches. Nigeria had previously recorded victories over Niger Republic (3-1), hosts Côte d’Ivoire (3-0), and Togo (3-1).
President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, expressed delight with the progress being made by volleyball in the country.
“We are delighted with the steady growth of volleyball in Nigeria. Our recent qualification for the competition in Congo and the qualification of our women’s team for Kenya are clear signs that the sport is moving in the right direction,” Nimrod said.
The NVBF president also revealed that preparations are already underway for Nigeria’s Under-19 Boys National Team ahead of their upcoming competition in Egypt.
“As we continue our journey, preparations are underway for our Under-19 Boys National Team ahead of their upcoming competition in Egypt. We ask for your prayers and support as we work to overcome a few remaining challenges. We are confident everything will fall into place,” he added.
Nimrod further commended the media for their continued support in promoting volleyball in Nigeria.
“On behalf of the Board of Administration of the Nigerian Volleyball Federation, I sincerely thank you all for your unwavering support and the excellent coverage you have given our activities.
“Your commitment to promoting volleyball in Nigeria has helped project the Federation in a positive light, and we truly appreciate it.”
Nigeria will conclude their Zone 3 qualifying campaign on Saturday with a fixture against Burkina Faso.
