By Tayo Ogunseye
Nigeria will face Algeria and Chad in Group C of the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship scheduled to begin in Tunisia on September 15.
The championship is expected to provide another major platform for African teams, with the competition also serving as a qualification event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Head coach, Ryan Masajedi, has set his sights on guiding the team beyond the group stage, while cautioning his players against underestimating any of their opponents.
The Japanese tactician said the players are fully aware of the importance of the championship and would approach each match with the required concentration. “The players understand what is at stake, and we’ll approach each game as it comes,” Masajedi said.
“The first task before us is to scale through the group stage and then wait for our opponent in the next round. We’ll not underrate any team in our group because they are equally at the championship to make a statement,” he added.
Masajedi also called on Nigerians to support the team with prayers and believe in the players as they begin their campaign in Tunisia, stressing the importance of a positive atmosphere around the squad.
Nigeria last featured prominently at the African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in 2021 in Rwanda, where the team finished seventh after defeating DR Congo 3-0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-22) in the classification match. The country subsequently missed the 2023 edition.
