Sports
LA 2028: Onikeku Salutes Historic Beach Volleyball Qualification, Promises Early Preparations
Joel Ajayi
A board member of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Mrs. Chinedu Odozor-Onikeku, has expressed delight over Nigeria’s historic qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in beach volleyball, attributing the feat to God.
Onikeku, who personally sponsored her trip to accompany and support the victorious Nigerian beach volleyball team in Alexandria, Egypt, said she was overwhelmed with joy following the team’s historic achievement.
Nigeria secured its first-ever Olympic ticket in beach volleyball after the women’s pair of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa defeated Morocco 2-0 at the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Alexandria.
Speaking on the team’s arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Sunday, Onikeku said the achievement was a testament to God’s intervention, considering the quality of teams that participated in the championship.“I feel so excited. I have to give glory to God because it can only be God,” she said.
The former athlete noted that the competition featured some of Africa’s strongest teams and physically imposing players, making Nigeria’s qualification even more remarkable.
“When you think of how many teams that came there, and when you see some of them, their height and the environment, you ask yourself, how did God do this? You can only say it is God,” she added.
Onikeku also commended the determination, ambition and fighting spirit of Mbah and Bawa, saying the players were motivated by their desire to represent Nigeria at the Olympic Games.
According to her, the prospect of making history and competing on the biggest sporting stage inspired the athletes to remain focused throughout the championship.
She said the historic qualification had generated enormous excitement within the team and the wider Nigerian volleyball community, adding that attention must now shift towards preparing the players adequately for their Olympic debut.
Onikeku assured that preparations for Los Angeles 2028 had already begun, although the athletes would first be allowed to recover from the physically demanding continental championship.
“The preparation has started already. Anybody that starts a new phase, they go to a new phase and start with a new phase finished,” she said.She explained that the immediate priority was to give the players some time to rest before the federation begins implementing a comprehensive preparation programme for the Olympic Games.
“So I believe now that the ticket has started already. It is just for them to get some rest and the preparation will start,” she added.
The qualification makes Mbah and Bawa the first Nigerian beach volleyball pair to secure a place at the Olympic Games, marking a significant milestone in the country’s volleyball history.
Their 2-0 victory over Morocco in Alexandria earned Nigeria the coveted continental ticket and sparked celebrations among players, officials and supporters of the sport.
With the historic ticket secured, Onikeku expressed confidence that sustained planning, adequate funding, international exposure and strong support from stakeholders would give the players the platform to compete favourably against the world’s best teams at Los Angeles 2028.
She urged all stakeholders in Nigerian sports to rally behind the team as preparations begin for what promises to be a landmark Olympic debut.
Sports
AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.
In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.
Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.
The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.
As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.
The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.
The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.
With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.
Africa is coming to Abuja.
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