By Agency Report

Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, has hailed the country’s U-18 Boys team after they claimed a historic title at the 2026 African Nations U-18 Boys Championship in Alexandria, Egypt.

The young Nigerians produced a commanding display to defeat hosts Egypt 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-14) in Wednesday’s final, securing Nigeria’s first-ever African U-18 Boys championship and booking a place at the 2027 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U-19 World Championship.

Speaking after the triumph, Nimrod described the victory as a major endorsement of the federation’s long-term investment in grassroots volleyball development.

According to him, the success is the result of the grassroots programme the NVBF has consistently implemented over the past nine years, stressing that the achievement proves Nigeria is building a sustainable future for the sport.

“This victory is a reflection of the hard work put into our grassroots development programme. It also provides a platform for these young players to secure opportunities with clubs in North Africa and even outside the continent,” Nimrod said.

He expressed confidence that several members of the victorious squad would attract interest from clubs across North Africa and beyond, giving them the opportunity to launch professional careers.

The NVBF president also commended the federation’s board members and other stakeholders for their unwavering support, describing their contributions as instrumental to the team’s remarkable success.

Nimrod assured that the federation would continue to prioritize volleyball development across the country, insisting that the African title would serve as motivation to achieve even greater success.

With the U-18 continental crown secured, he said the federation’s attention would now shift to preparations for the 2026 African Nations Championship involving Nigeria’s senior men’s and women’s national teams.

He expressed optimism that the U-18 team’s achievement would inspire a new era of success for Nigerian volleyball at both the African and global stages.