Nigeria has triumphantly secured a place in the final of the 2023 Girls U17 African Nations Volleyball Championship in Abuja.
The team displayed remarkable prowess in a hard-fought semi-final against Cameroon, clinching victory with a 3-1 scoreline (27-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-19) at the iconic Moshood Abiola Stadium, Package B.
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Head coach Sunday Akapson expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on the ultimate goal.
Akapson praised the players for adhering to the technical crew’s instructions and highlighted the role of morale-boosting during critical moments of the match.
“I am very excited and very fulfilled, but we are not there yet. I do not want to get carried away with the excitement and forget the target tomorrow (Thursday) because we need to finish the race,” Akapson remarked.
He acknowledged the significance of motivation in the team’s success, citing instances where encouragement from the coaching staff played a pivotal role in turning the tide during the match against Cameroon.
In particular, Akapson commended the team captain, Mirabel Onyegwu, for her outstanding leadership qualities on the court. Onyegwu’s stellar performance earned her the title of Most Outstanding Player in the semi-final.
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Looking ahead to the showdown against Egypt, Akapson expressed determination to give the Egyptian team a formidable challenge.
Despite losing to Egypt in the group stage, the coach is confident that Nigeria will provide a tough competition in the final.
“This is just the starting point for these girls. They have a promising future because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that preparing any Olympic athletes takes at least ten years; these sets of players are below 17 years,” Akapson added.
The final between Nigeria and Egypt is set to take place on Thursday at 4 pm, promising an exciting clash between the two determined teams.
The achievement marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s U17 volleyball team and sets the stage for a potential historic victory in the continental championship.
