Abuja: Martin Melandi, the Technical Director of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVB), has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s team maintaining their top position in the 2025 CAVB Under 18 Boys and Girls Beach Volleyball Championship.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Melandi stated that the team is not afraid of any country and is determined to maintain their top ranking in Africa. “We believe the team will finish on the podium because the team is well-prepared for the championship,” he said. He emphasized the importance of participating in international competitions to boost the team’s rankings.
Melandi noted that the team has been in camp for about a month, initially training in Kaduna before moving to Abuja to acclimatize with the weather. He explained that the team trained in the morning and evening for final preparations before the championship. “We don’t want them to be strangers in their own soil,” he added.
The female team, currently topping the rankings table, is set to fight to maintain their first position. Melandi pointed out that this is a new set of players, with only four having played in the championship before, due to the age category competition.
According to Melandi, hosting the championship is beneficial for Nigeria, and participating in more countries will boost their points for Olympic qualification. He mentioned that the team will also compete in an upcoming championship in Burundi, which will affect their Olympic rankings. “A strong performance will not only boost their rankings but also demonstrate Nigeria’s prowess in beach volleyball,” he said.
NAN reports that 15 countries have arrived in Abuja to participate in the 2025 CAVB Under-18 Beach Volleyball Championship, which started today and is expected to end on August 7.