The 13th All African Games in Accra, Ghana, was a significant event for Nigeria, particularly in the sport of beach volleyball.
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The Nigerian team, under the leadership of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation President, Musa Nimrod, secured a bronze medal, marking a significant achievement for the young team.
Nimrod expressed his mixed feelings about the result to Sports247, stating, “It was not an expectation. We lost the semi-final painfully. We never believed we would settle for bronze. We were ready to go with Egypt. In the round of 12, we battled it with them. It has happened and we cannot go back home without a medal.”
Despite the loss, Nimrod found joy in the performance of the young athletes, most of whom are not up to 20 years old and just finished secondary school last year. He said, “My joy is that these are small girls. There are people older than them and Olympians who the girls have played with. But these are young girls, and I assure you, these girls would go far.”
Looking ahead, Nimrod revealed that the team’s focus is now on the Continental Cup in Casablanca coming up in June, which serves as a pathway to the 2024 Paris Olympics. He stated, “For me, this is not the level I want. We are interested in the Continental Cup, Until we get this gold in Paris 2024. Because this is going to be the third time we are coming 2nd and this time, we want to get it with Paris.”
In preparation for the Continental Cup, Nigeria will be hosting a Beach Volleyball tournament on the 19th. Nimrod explained, “We are hosting a Beach Volleyball tournament in Nigeria on the 19th which will be the preparation to the Continental Cup because these girls are very good and we want to encourage them and build a strong team of beach volleyball all over the country.”
He also acknowledged the challenges faced by the All African Games, stating, “They have their challenges and that’s why all of us in the zone came together to assist Ghana. They are our brothers and we have seen a lot of lapses but I am here together with all other presidents of different zones to protect ECOWAS. The spirit of ECOWAS is manifesting here.”
With their unwavering spirit and dedication to nurturing talent, the Nigerian Volleyball Federation is certainly a force to be reckoned with. Their journey at the All African Games is just the beginning of their preparations for the Continental Cup and their quest to secure a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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