Sports
CAVB Cautions Teams to Adhere to Rules as Africa U18 Beach Volleyball Championship Begins Today in Abuja
By Joel Ajayi
The 2025 CAVB U-19 Beach Volleyball African Championship officially kicked off on Sunday at Jabi Lake Park, Abuja, with the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) issuing a firm warning to all participating teams to strictly adhere to tournament rules and regulations.
The caution comes as 16 male and female teams from 12 African countries begin their pursuit of continental glory and qualification spots for the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Qatar.
CAVB officials have stressed that any form of misconduct, cheating, or disrespect to officials will not be tolerated, emphasizing that the integrity of the tournament remains paramount.
Speaking during the pre-tournament technical meeting held on Saturday, CAVB Representative and President of Zone 3, Prince Ali Yaro, and others CAVB member underscored the need for discipline, professionalism, and respect for officiating—both on and off the court.
“We expect all teams to maintain the highest standards of professionalism,” said a CAVB official.
“This is a World Championship qualifier, and the eyes of the continent—and the world—are on us. All teams must obey the tournament rules.”
The championship, hosted by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), is showcasing top youth volleyball talents from across the continent over a five-day period of intense competition.
NVBF President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, assured that Nigeria is fully prepared to host a seamless and competitive tournament, urging athletes to focus on fair play and strong performances.
“We are proud to host this prestigious event. Our facilities meet international standards, and we are confident in delivering a successful tournament. Let the best teams win—and win clean,” Nimrod said.
Participating nations include Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. With limited qualification slots available, the stakes are high for all teams.
Male Category
- Pool A: Nigeria 1, Benin Republic, Egypt 1, Burkina Faso
- Pool B: Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria 3
- Pool C: DR Congo, Morocco, Burundi, Nigeria 2
- Pool D: Morocco 1, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi 2, Egypt 2
Female Category
- Pool A: Nigeria 1, Burundi, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire
- Pool B: Morocco 1, Burundi 2, Benin Republic, Nigeria 2
- Pool C: Gambia, Egypt 1, Nigeria 3, Zambia
- Pool D: Morocco 2, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt 2
As matches kick off at 1 p.m. (Nigeria time) on Sunday, all eyes are on Abuja to witness the rise of Africa’s next generation of beach volleyball champions and potential Olympic hopefuls.
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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