Nigeria set to battle for supremacy at U-21 Volleyball Championship

Published

2 years ago

July 8, 2023

Team Nigeria continues with her impressive performance at the ongoing 2023 African U21 Nations Volleyball Championship (Zone 3) in Niamey, Niger Republic.

Nigeria records her second consecutive win after defeating the host, Niger Republic 3-0 (25-4, 25-11, 25-4) in front of her home fans on Friday night.

Reacting after the win, the head coach of Nigeria U21 women’s team, Rakiya Muhammad revealed that her team will go all out against Benin Republic fit Supremacy battle.

The Gaffer continued that starting six and bench are good to change the narrative on the court.

She added that her team will beat Benin Republic, saying her team are doing good.

She said, “I feel happy that we are able to beat the Niger Republic, you can see that they brought their supporters to cheer them up.

The girls were not intimidatd by the crowd and it did not move them a bit. When you see the scoreline, we beat them all the three sets and very good results with this we are through to the final.

“The substitute I brought in played very well and even the starting six because in a competition you concentrate only on your starting six. The bench came in to do best.

“We are facing our neighbors with a game to play, now that we know we are through to the finals but we are going to fight for supremacy since it’s a round Rubin game and we will beat them.”

Recall that Nigeria defeated Ghana in her first game, 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-8).

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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta

Published

2 hours ago

May 23, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.

Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.

Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.

In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.

Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.

Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:

Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.

Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.

Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.

With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.

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