The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) women’s beach volleyball team has emerged victorious at the 2024 National Beach Volleyball Star Tour, held in Bauchi.
The NCS women’s team, led by captain Tochukwu Nnoruga, triumphed in an intense final match at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, overcoming the Kada Emeralds 2-1 in a gripping contest.
The final scoreline of 19-21, 25-23, 15-9 reflected the determination and resilience of the Customs team, who were unbeaten throughout both the first and second phases of the Star Tour.
Despite losing the opening set 19-21, Tochukwu Nnoruga and her partner, Francesca Ikihide, displayed remarkable teamwork and grit to recover, taking the next two sets in thrilling fashion to clinch the championship.
In a post-match interview, Samuel Onikeku, the Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service, expressed his pride in the team’s performance and highlighted the significant role played by the leadership of the NCS in their success.
“This victory is not just a reflection of the hard work and skill of the players, but also the continuous support we’ve received from our leadership. We are very proud of our women’s team, who have shown exceptional resilience and teamwork,” Onikeku stated.
Onikeku also extended gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for his consistent backing of the team as well as dedicating the trophy to the CG and his management.
“We owe a great deal of this success to the leadership of the Comptroller General, who has been a pillar of support for the team. His commitment to ensuring the growth and development of sports within the Nigeria Customs Service has been invaluable,” he added.
The victory not only solidifies the NCS women’s team’s dominance in the competition but also signals the growing prominence of beach volleyball in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the NCS men’s team also delivered an impressive performance, finishing second in the Star Tour.
Though they were narrowly edged out in the final standings, their efforts were commendable, and they remain a team to watch in future tournaments.
Onikeku said the victory serves as an important milestone in preparation for the final phase of the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League, where the NCS teams, both men’s and women’s, are expected to compete for more trophies.
“This triumph in the Star Tour is just the beginning. It’s part of our broader preparation for the upcoming phase of the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League, where we are aiming for even greater success and more trophies,” Onikeku emphasized.
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