…As Nigeria Customs Faces Mayo in Opening Game

By Joel Ajayi

Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, played host on Wednesday to the 16th African Women’s Club Championship, a prestigious gathering was described as the greatest assembly of volleyball in Africa.

The much-anticipated 12-day tournament, the 2025 Women’s African Volleyball Club Championship (AWVCC25), will take place from April 1st to April 14th at the multipurpose sports hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in the Federal Capital Territory. Sixteen clubs from across the continent will compete for top honors in this highly esteemed championship.

The opening ceremony will be graced by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who serves as the Grand Patron of the championship.

Dignitaries and sports enthusiasts from across Africa will be present at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, to officially declare the tournament open.

Excitement is building in Abuja as final preparations are being made. A technical meeting was held on Wednesday night, where organizers reaffirmed their commitment to hosting a successful tournament.

Speaking at the technical meeting, the host, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi MFR, described the event as the Greatest Assembly of Volleyball in Africa.

He assured all participating clubs of a memorable experience both during and after the tournament.
“It is our pleasure to welcome the greatest assembly of volleyball in Africa to Abuja, Nigeria. We are truly delighted to have you here,” he said.

“When you watch a volleyball game, you see 12 players on the court, maybe two or three officials. But behind the scenes, the value chain extends much further the umpires, referees, scorers, statisticians, and everyone involved in making the tournament a success. We are honored to host you all.”

Adeniyi also highlighted his personal experience with previous volleyball competitions, adding, “I have been involved in a few of these tournaments before, but in different capacities. This is the first time we are playing the role of host, and we are committed to making your stay in Nigeria enjoyable.”

In his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engr. Musa Nimrod, extended a warm welcome to all participating clubs.

He expressed gratitude to the teams for choosing Nigeria as their host country, marking a historic first for the nation.

Reflecting on the journey of Nigerian volleyball, Nimrod stated, “What started as a mere dream has now become a reality. Volleyball in Nigeria is competing with football in popularity.”

He also assured participants that Abuja is a peaceful and secure city with excellent healthcare services available.

“We wish all the teams the best of luck during their stay in Abuja,” he concluded.

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