Nigeria volleyball team…

Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) Second Vice President, Architect Adamu Tanimu, has charged Nigeria’s senior women’s volleyball team to embrace the enormous responsibility of representing the country at the 2026 CAVB African Women’s Nations Cup in Nairobi, declaring that more than 242.4 million Nigerians are “on your shoulders” as the players prepare for the continental championship.

Key highlights

• Nigeria’s senior women’s volleyball team will compete at the 2026 CAVB African Women’s Nations Cup in Nairobi from August 23 to September 5.
• NVBF Second Vice President Adamu Tanimu told the players that millions of Nigerians are counting on them.
• Tanimu urged the team to travel with a winning mentality, stressing that they are going to Kenya to win, not merely participate.
• New Technical Adviser Ryan Masajedi has introduced modern international techniques and tactical systems.
• The federation says Masajedi’s appointment is also aimed at strengthening grassroots volleyball development in Nigeria.

The championship is scheduled to take place in Nairobi from August 23 to September 5, 2026, with Nigeria’s team preparing for the continental challenge after an intensive training camp in Abuja.

Speaking during the team’s unveiling and send-off activities, Tanimu said Masajedi’s arrival had brought new technical ideas capable of transforming the way the Nigerian team approaches the game.

“Coach Ryan has introduced so many things that are international in nature. Volleyball has now become a global game, and you don’t play it the way we traditionally played it in this country,” the official said.

He added that Masajedi had brought the techniques and systems required to make the Nigerian side compete at an international level, expressing hope that the team would present a different face in Kenya.

Tanimu urged the players to approach the championship with confidence and a winning mentality, stressing that the team was not travelling simply to participate.

“We have prepared them. These girls have to be what they want to be. They have to believe. Once you have belief, you can reach the sky,” he said.

“We have told them before, and we will continue telling them until the time they board the plane: you have to be yourself, you have to believe in yourself, and you must believe that you are going to win. You are not just going there to participate. You are going there to win.”

He also disclosed that Masajedi’s work with Nigeria had attracted attention from coaches in North Africa, claiming that about three coaches from the region had been trying to monitor what the Japanese tactician was doing with the Nigerian team.

The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) unveiled Masajedi as its new Technical Adviser/Coach earlier this month. Federation President Musa Nimrod said the coach would work with the senior women’s team in Kenya and subsequently take charge of the men’s national team for the African Nations Championship in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nimrod also said Masajedi’s 12-month appointment, supported by an agreement with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), would extend beyond the national teams to grassroots development across Nigeria.

Speaking further, Tanimu commended the NVBF leadership for providing the conditions that enabled the team to complete what he described as a satisfying training camp.

He praised the technical crew for improving the players’ understanding of modern volleyball and urged the squad to embrace the responsibility of representing Nigeria.

“As players representing this country, you have an enormous task before you. Not only playing volleyball, but millions of Nigerians are on your shoulders,” he said.

He challenged the players to believe in themselves, carry the hopes of Nigerians into the competition and return from Kenya proud of their performance.

Tanimu said the federation had given the players the best possible preparation and urged them to trust themselves, remain confident and go to Kenya with the mentality that they were going there to win rather than merely participate.

“We have prepared them, and they are ready. Most importantly, these girls must be what they want to be. They have to believe in themselves,” he said.

“You are not just going there to participate. You are going there to win. By God’s grace, we shall win.”

Team captain Ijeoma Ukpabi said the players had sacrificed their time and energy during the preparation period and were determined to ensure that their efforts were not wasted.

She said the team had developed strong unity and would approach the tournament as a family.

“We sacrificed our time, our energy and a lot of things to be here. I am very sure that is not going to go to waste,” the captain said.

According to her, the players had resolved to remain strong regardless of the quality or reputation of their opponents.

“It doesn’t matter who is at the other side of the court or who has been there before. This time, we are going for ourselves first before any other thing,” she said.

She thanked Nigerians for their support and prayers, while appealing for continued prayers for an injury-free and successful tournament.

Ukpabi also appealed to Nigerians to continue praying for the team, particularly for an injury-free and successful campaign in Kenya.

NVBF North East Representative, DCP Stephen Hasso (Rtd.), described the players as the “Chosen Ones,” saying they had been selected from a wider pool to carry Nigeria’s flag at the continental championship.

He urged them to serve as good ambassadors of the country and to put into practice everything they had learned during the three-week training camp.

He particularly advised the players to listen carefully to the technical instructions of their coaches during matches and avoid deviating from the team’s tactical plan.

“If the coach is substituting you with another person and gives instructions, please, when you go inside, exhibit what he has told you. Don’t go and play on your own,” he said.

The chairman said he had personally observed the team during training and was impressed with the players’ development and level of preparation.

“I believe that you are equal to the task. You are going to meet other countries there, but I believe that you are not going there for nothing. You will come back successful,” he said.

He also prayed for the team to have a safe journey to Kenya.

Masajedi, who only recently assumed his role with the national teams, said the coaching staff had worked intensively with the players on their fundamentals, technique, physical preparation and injury prevention.

He said particular attention was paid to injury prevention, physical preparation and technical development.

The coach praised the players for their commitment and described their effort during the camp as “amazing” and “impressive.”

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He, however, stressed that the team’s success should not be measured solely by whether it wins or loses, but also by the level of development achieved by the players.

“It’s not about winning or losing; it’s also about development. When you are going there and putting everything, the result will come,” he said.

Coach Ryan urged the players to remain patient, disciplined and maintain their fighting spirit throughout the tournament.

He said their determination could eventually put pressure on their opponents and create opportunities for Nigeria to take control of matches.

His message to the players was simple: give everything they have learned to the team.

“If you are 40 per cent, do your 40 per cent. That will be 100 per cent for the team,” he said.

Coach Ryan expressed confidence that the players could return from Kenya with a positive result if they maintained the attitude and work ethic demonstrated during the training camp.

Masajedi expressed confidence that the team could return from Nairobi with a positive result if the players maintained the commitment and fighting spirit demonstrated during their preparation.