Sports
As 2025 CAVB Beach Volleyball Ends, NVF President Targets Stronger Global Outing
By Joel Ajayi
After several days of intense action, excitement, and high-level competition among 12 participating nations, the 2025 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Championship concluded on Thursday in Abuja, with Nigeria putting up an impressive showing.
The Gambia emerged champions in the men’s category, followed by Congo, while Nigeria secured third and fourth positions. In the women’s category, Nigeria dominated, finishing both first and second.
Speaking at the closing ceremony held at Jabi Lake, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, commended all stakeholders whose contributions ensured the resounding success of the championship.
“It’s been a week of nonstop action here at Jabi Lake. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. As far as I and the CAVB are concerned, the competition was of a very high standard. Feedback from the international community has been overwhelmingly positive. The organization was top-notch, and we are grateful for that,” Nimrod said.
While acknowledging the financial challenges that often affect sporting events, he expressed satisfaction that the Federation was able to overcome those hurdles to deliver a successful tournament.
Looking ahead, Nimrod pledged that Nigeria’s athletes will commence immediate preparations for upcoming international championships. He revealed that the female teams will head straight to camp in preparation for the Olympic Solidarity event in The Gambia, which is scheduled to take place in the next two weeks.
“The girls are going straight into camp because we have a busy calendar. The Olympic Solidarity event in The Gambia is key, as we’re already building towards the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. Our U-18 team will head to Doha for the World Championship, while the senior team will travel to Australia for their World Championship,” he explained.
He added that Nigeria will also compete in the Zone 3 Senior Championship in Abidjan between August and September, emphasizing that there will be no break in training and competition for the athletes.
“We are proud of their performance and remain committed to giving them all the support they need to succeed on the global stage,” Nimrod concluded.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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