We were supposed to play against Benin Republic, we got their assurance but they withdrew at last minute
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVF) on Friday said the country’s male and female volleyball teams had qualified for the 13th edition of the Ghana 2024 African Games.
The Technical Director of the federation, Martin Melandi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the National Stadium Surulere Lagos.
He said the automatic qualification was due to the failure of Benin Republic to honour its match engagements.
He said the inability of Benin Republic to fund travel expenses of its teams was given as reason for not honouring the engagements.
“This is Zone three for West Africa. We were supposed to play against Benin Republic, we got their assurance but they withdrew at last minute.
“Ali Yaro, Zonal President of West Africa, has written to the Confederation of African Volleyball that Nigeria’s volleyball teams have qualified automatically.
“So, we had to organise exhibition matches for them with some selected Lagos players. This is their first game since they entered camp, I’m optimistic that with subsequent friendlies they will perform well,” he said.
The men’s team led by Moses Gana defeated Lagos State selected volleyball team 3-0 in a best of three games 30-28, 25-21, 25-22.
Gana told NAN that his was certain subsequent matches would be tough for the team’s opponents.
Gana, who was named captain of the team, said he was not under pressure.
NAN