Sports
Remain Focused, Nimrod Charges Nigerian Players as All Eyes Turn to 2025 CAVB Beach Volleyball Championship
Joel Ajayi
As the 2025 CAVB U-19 Beach Volleyball African Championship kicks off on Monday in Abuja, the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, has urged Nigerian players to remain focused and determined in their pursuit of continental dominance.
Speaking after the technical meeting and tournament draw held at the Jabi Lake Park venue, Nimrod expressed satisfaction with the growth and participation levels in this year’s championship, which features 16 strong teams from 12 African countries—a notable increase from previous editions.
“This is a great tournament that has grown steadily over the years. We had hoped for even more teams, but we’re very pleased with the strong representation we now have. All the teams have done a great job getting here,” he said.
Nimrod commended the high level of participation, particularly from West African nations, and noted the rising popularity and competitiveness of beach volleyball across the continent.
“Beach volleyball wasn’t taken seriously in Africa before, but things have changed. North African teams first made Olympic breakthroughs, and now West Africa is stepping up. Southern Africa has also joined the competition fiercely—just like in football and athletics. This healthy rivalry is good for the sport,” he added.
The NVBF President also highlighted the progress of Nigeria’s rising star, Pamela, who recently qualified for the World Championships in Australia. Although she will not be playing alongside her regular partner Esther during this tournament, Nimrod praised her adaptability and symbolized her as a product of Nigeria’s developmental strides in the sport.
“Pamela is a testament to our development efforts. She fits well into her age group, and though she won’t be playing with her usual partner, she’s adapting quickly. That’s a challenge, but also an opportunity. Our players must not take any opponent for granted—every country is here to win.”
He urged Nigerian players to maintain mental discipline and stay committed to retaining Nigeria’s top spot in Africa.
“They must stay focused and committed to keeping Nigeria at the top. We are currently number one in this category, and our goal is to remain there.”
Nimrod also encouraged members of the public to attend the tournament and support the teams, while commending the upgraded facilities at the Jabi Lake Park venue.
“Jabi Park now boasts an international-standard beach volleyball court. We’re proud of the progress made and invite everyone to come out and experience world-class beach volleyball here in Nigeria.”
The 2025 CAVB Beach Volleyball Championship serves as a qualifier for upcoming global competitions and will run for five days, showcasing some of the best emerging talent from across the African continent.
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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