Sports
2023 African Beach Games: NVBF Unveils Beach Volleyball Squad
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has unveiled its beach volleyball squad for the 2023 African Beach Games in Tunisia.
The 2023 African Beach Games will be hosted by Tunisia from 23rd to 30th June at the Yasmine Hammamet resort in Tunisia.
The NVBF named 12 players in the squad consisting of six men and six women as well as two coaches.
The list made available by the Secretary General of the NVBF, Ngozi Amayo, also has 2022 National Beach Volleyball Tour Champions, Obayemi Ogunshina and Hilary Simon (men) as well as Albertina Francis and Happy Wushilang (women).
Other players selected for the African Beach Games include the 2022 National Sports Festival Champion, Uchenna Okereafor and Peter Ibrahim (men), and highly experienced Francisca Ikhiede and Tochukwu Nnoruga (women).
Kayode Ajilore will handle the men’s team while John Iwerima takes charge of the women’s team.
Coach of the men’s team, Kayode Ajilore said Nigeria will perform extremely well at this year’s African Beach Games.
The Nigeria Immigration Service gaffer said the players have the capacity of delivering medals for the country this time.
He said, “The beach volleyball teams Nigeria is parading have a point to prove at the 2023 African Beach Games. The players have been playing various beach volleyball tournaments in the country including the National Sports Festival, National Beach Volleyball Tour, and the President Cup.
“Each player going to Tunisia has played not less than 70 matches in the last two years; this has put them in good shape. The only way the players can reward the country is by winning medals.
Meanwhile, the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod commended the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for including beach volleyball amongst the teams to participate at the 2023 African Beach Games.
He charged the players to give their best and ensure the national anthem is sung on the podium.
FULL SQUAD
Male:
Obayemi Ogunshina, Hilary Simon, Peter Ibrahim, Emenike Ezike, Uchenna Okereafor, and Philip Zaka
Female
Esther Mbah, Albertina Francis, Tochukwu Nnoruga, Naomi Yaro, Francisca Ikhiede and Happy Wushilang
Coaches:
Kayode Ajilore and John Iwerima
Sports
Leadership Boost: Dr. Nneka Anibeze Takes Helm as AFN COO
By Joel Ajayi
In a major boost for Nigerian athletics, Dr. Nneka Anibeze, a seasoned sports journalist and respected figure in the Nigerian sports community, has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
The appointment was officially announced on Thursday in Abuja, shortly after the conclusion of the AFN elections.
AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa stated that the appointment aligns with the National Sports Commission’s broader objective to promote inclusivity and inject fresh, dynamic leadership into the federation’s administrative framework. Alongside Dr. Anibeze’s appointment, Kola Oredipe was named Auditor, with other professionals also appointed into key legal advisory roles.
Dr. Anibeze brings to the role a wealth of experience, leadership, and a proven track record of contributing to the growth of sports in Nigeria. Her appointment is widely seen as a strategic move to strengthen AFN’s operations, both domestically and on the international stage.
Stakeholders across the sports sector have hailed the appointment, expressing optimism that Dr. Anibeze’s knowledge, professionalism, and vision will help reposition Nigerian athletics for long-term success.
In her remarks following the announcement, Dr. Anibeze took a moment to appreciate the critical role of the Nigerian media in advancing sports development.
Speaking shortly after the election of the Nigeria Association for Women in Sports (NAWIS) representative into the AFN board, she described the media as “the most important stakeholder” in the sporting ecosystem.
> “The future of Nigerian sports is very bright,” she stated. “The media is the greatest stakeholder in sports. Without the media, it’s like blinking in the dark.”
Drawing from her extensive experience in sports journalism, Dr. Anibeze recalled covering iconic international competitions, including the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, where she reported on Nigerian legends like Fatima Yusuf, Mary Onyali, and Innocent Egbunike.
“Back then, sports coverage was occasional. Today, sports is big business—and the media drives that business. Without television rights, sponsorship deals, and live coverage, sports would not attract the massive investments it does today,” she explained.“The media makes sports visible, marketable, and profitable.”
Dr. Anibeze urged journalists and media organizations to continue championing the growth of Nigerian sports, stressing their responsibility in shaping narratives and driving positive change.
“Despite the challenges, I believe in the future of sports in Nigeria. With people committed to doing the right thing—and with the media actively involved—we will get there,” she concluded.
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