Sports
Volleyball: Nigeria to face Egypt in U17 Nations C’Ship Opener today
Nigeria will take on Egypt in their opening match at the 2023 Girl’s U17 African Nations Volleyball Championship in Abuja on Saturday.
The encounter is billed for today (December 2) by 4pm at the indoor sports hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium (Package B) in Abuja.
Only three countries which includes host Nigeria, Egypt and Cameroon will be participating in the tournament after two countries pulled out due to logistics.
The head coach of Nigeria U17 Girls’ team, Sunday Akapson told newsmen that his players will give their best during the championship.
The FIVB Level 1 coach said, “These are new crop of players who are ready to make the nation proud at the U17 Championship. This is an opportunity to expose the players to international tournaments and we are hopeful of making a positive impact.
“I am enjoining lovers of the game of volleyball to rally round the team and support us when we take on Egypt today”.
Meanwhile, Former Vice President of the Confederation of African Volleyball, Engineer Habu Gumel said countries on the continent have to make age grade championships their priority if we stand any chances of competing with other continents.
Engineer Gumel said, “I wanted to see a lot of African teams here in Nigeria for the African U17 Girl’s Championship but they could not come due to financial issues. Nevertheless, the CAVB under the leadership of Madam Bouchra Hajij is doing her best and this issue will be discussed at the next board of administration meeting to find ways to ensure African countries participate in other age groups.
“It is our collective duty to ensure we develop volleyball in Africa in order to match other continents”.
The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod attributed the low turnout of teams to logistics issues faced by other Sub Saharan countries.
He said, “12 African countries indicated to participate at the 2023 Girl’s U17 African Nations Volleyball Championship but 6 registered. Algeria and Tunisia could not make it due to logistics; that is why we have three teams in this championship.
The U17 Boy’s championship will be taking place in Libya and some of these North African countries will be in attendance”.
Egypt will face Cameroon on Sunday (Dec 3rd) in the second match of the ongoing U17 Girl’s Championship.
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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