By Jude Opara, Abuja
The president of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engr. Musa Nimrod has said that volleyball will soon rival football in general acceptance in the country.
Nimrod who spoke at the opening of the Technical Committee meeting of the ongoing 2025 African Women’s Volleyball Club Championship holding in Abuja said though the journey has not been very smooth, the Federation has been putting in the best to take the sport to every part of the country.
He also told the visitors drawn from different parts of Africa to feel free because Abuja and indeed Nigeria is very peaceful, as against some of the negative reports out there.
Also speaking, President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel thanked the Nigeria Customs Service for opting to host the championship.
Gumel equally urged the athletes to compete clean without engaging in any thing that could tarnish the image of the championship.
In his goodwill message, the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi while welcoming the delegates assured them of the readiness of his organization to give them the best of what is obtainable elsewhere.
He told them to mix freely with Nigerians because they are very hospitable and accommodating people.
In the opening match on Thursday, APR of Rwanda came from behind to shock the Cathage of Tunisia in Pool A cracker.
Rwandan APR earned a famous victory against CFC of Tunisia winning 3-1 (18-25, 26-24, 25-23, 25-23).
The Tunisian side, CFC took an early lead and dominated for the first set with some strong hitting for a 25-18 win.
At the resumption of the game, CFC came back fighting in the second set and led at the first technical timeout.
However, APR eventually outplayed to win the second set 26-24, showing their versatility and blocking strength to keep the Tunisians from gaining any real traction in the 3rd set, winning 25-23.
The girls from Rwanda launched a passionate comeback and dominated the encounter throughout the fourth set, forcing their opponents to effect substitutions and time outs.
The CFC actually closed the gap to 23-22 forcing APR to dig deep to stop the opponents’ attacks and winning a famous 25-23.
A total of 18 countries have already arrived Abuja for the fiesta which will last till next week.
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