The qualification means Nigeria will compete at the continental championship scheduled for September 7 to 21 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, after producing an unbeaten run through the qualifying tournament.
The decisive moment came against Benin Republic in a contest that demanded resilience. Nigeria found themselves behind after Benin edged the opening set 25-21 in a fiercely contested encounter that featured controversial officiating. Instead of allowing the setback to derail their campaign, the Nigerian side responded with composure and determination.
They levelled the match by taking the second set 25-21 before raising the intensity in the closing stages. Nigeria dominated the third set 25-15 and wrapped up the fourth 25-20, completing a 3-1 comeback victory. The result not only confirmed Nigeria's qualification but also inflicted Benin Republic's first defeat of the tournament.
The victory capped an impressive qualifying campaign for Nigeria, who had earlier defeated Niger Republic 3-1, Ivory Coast 3-0 and Togo 3-1 to establish themselves as one of the strongest teams in the competition.
For the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, the achievement underscores the steady growth of volleyball in Nigeria.
Federation President Musa Nimrod described the qualification as another encouraging milestone, pointing out that Nigeria's men will compete in Congo while the women's national team has also secured qualification for a similar continental competition in Kenya.
"We are delighted with the steady growth of volleyball in Nigeria. Our recent qualification for the competition in Congo and the qualification of our women's team for Kenya are clear signs that the sport is moving in the right direction," Nimrod said.
Beyond the senior teams, the federation is already looking ahead. According to Nimrod, preparations have commenced for Nigeria's Under-19 Boys National Team ahead of its upcoming competition in Egypt.
"As we continue our journey, preparations are underway for our U-19 Boys National Team ahead of their upcoming competition in Egypt. We ask for your prayers and support as we work to overcome a few remaining challenges. We are confident everything will fall into place," he said.
Nimrod also acknowledged the contribution of the media to the sport's growing visibility, thanking journalists for their continued commitment to covering volleyball and helping project the federation's activities positively.
Although qualification has already been secured, Nigeria's campaign in Abidjan is not yet over. The team will conclude its Zone 3 qualifiers with a final fixture against Burkina Faso on Saturday, aiming to preserve its unbeaten record before shifting attention to the African Volleyball Nations Cup in Kinshasa.
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