Sports

Chief of Naval Staff Hosts Victorious Volleyball Teams After Exploit In Tunisia

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2023

…Pledges to do more to promote Sports

Joel Ajayi

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Auwal Zubair Gambo, on Friday hosted the victorious Naval Teams known as CNS Spikers volleyball club after their great exploit in the just concluded Africa Club Volleyball Championship in Tunisia.

The Male and Female team participated in the Africa event and the end of the competition, CNS Spikers female team emerged as the 7th out of 47 teams, while their male counterparts came 9th out of 42 teams.

He expressed that, the Navy will stop at nothing to make sports as one of its priorities through the discovery of talents at the grassroots and who will bring honour not only to the Command but Nigeria as a country.

Speaking at the event in Abuja the Vice Admiral Gambo said the Command’s teams victory is commendable adding that, the Navy will not relent in promotion of sports.

Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plan, Rear Admiral Sulaiman Garba, the CNS said his passion for sports made him to establish the club when he was appointed saying the Navy will continue to headhunt for talents to make the team perform better at regional and international competitions.

“The Chief of Naval Staff has made sporting activities as one of his priorities directive strategy.

“In the past two years that he has been on the reign of the Navy, he has promoted some very veritable sports to the level of national recognition starting first woth the Volleyball team which was formed some 18 months ago that he came on board followed by our football team which is also doing very well presently in Division 3.

“We have also established the Polo Club which is being instituted under Navy and which means it has come to stay. And not only that we intend to have our own Polo field as a proper Polo organisation. This shows that the CNS is an ardent sports enthusiast and a promoter of sports in Nigeria.

“The CNS Spikers teams which just came back from Tunisia has performed wonderfully well. Out of 47 teams that participated in the female event, our team came 7th and the male 9th out of 42. This is at Africa level and they were both highest ranking teams in Nigeria the reason they represented the country at the event.

“We want you to do better and the CNS will no stone unturned to ensure that he provides all the necessary amenities and facilities as well as morale and welfare to make sure that the team get all the exposure needed and of course to keep growing to a level where you should be among the best three in Africa and of course the best in Nigeria. We want you to continue to make us proud.

“At the strategic level, the CNS has already directed that we should go for talent hunting outside there to join the CNS Spikers Volleyball Club.

The Naval chief however commended the Minister of Sports and Youth Development Sunday Dare and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVF)for the support given to the naval team.

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Sports

Flamingos’ Historic World Cup Feat Draws Musawa’s Commendation

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has congratulated Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat to claim Nigeria’s first title in the competition and make history as the first African nation to win the tournament.

Awawu Bashiru gave Nigeria the lead in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku extended the advantage two minutes after the restart. Japan’s Fuki Ito reduced the deficit in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian girls held on to secure a memorable victory.

In a congratulatory message was signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister, Nneka Ikem Anibeze on Sunday in Abuja, Musawa described the achievement as a defining moment for Nigeria and a significant milestone for African women’s football, attributing the success to the team’s resilience, talent and determination.

“This is more than a trophy. It is a story of young Nigerian girls who refused to give up, who rose after defeat, and who carried the hopes of a continent to the top of the world,” she said.

The Minister noted that the Flamingos had broken new ground by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria also became the first African country to win both the men’s and women’s U-17 World Cup titles.

The team further achieved another remarkable feat by becoming the first side in the competition’s history to lose its opening match and eventually emerge champions.

Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Poland in their opening group-stage encounter, the Flamingos recovered impressively, recording six consecutive victories to lift the trophy.

Musawa particularly praised Umejiaku, who claimed the tournament’s Golden Ball award as the best player, and Bashiru for their crucial contributions in the final.

She also commended the entire squad for their discipline, teamwork and determination throughout the competition.

According to her, the victory demonstrates the creativity, courage and excellence of Nigerian youths on the global stage.

The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to celebrating and promoting the achievements and inspiring stories of young Nigerians who continue to bring honour to the country.

“Our girls have shown the world what Nigeria is made of. We celebrate you today, and we will continue to stand with you,” she added.

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