By Victor Kanayo
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has invited 19 players for preparations ahead of the 2023 African Women’s Senior Volleyball Championship scheduled for Cameroon between August 14 and 29, 2023.
This was disclosed in a statement by the NVBF media department.
According to the statement, the list released by the Technical Director of the Federation, Chief Martin Melandi, has 2022 National Best Setter, Enewa Odoh (Customs), Best Spiker, Ijeoma Ukapbi (COAS Spikers) and Best Libero, Jummai Bitrus (CNS Spikers).
“The Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2022 Nigeria Volleyball League, Kelechi Ndukauba (CNS Spikers), as well as MVP of the 2023 African U21 Women’s Nations Championship, Mariam Usman (CNS Spikers), made the list of invited players.
“Nigeria’s most in-form volleyball player, Albertina Francis (NSCDC); experienced middle blocker Helen Umeh (Customs) and national setter, Sharon Achi (NSCDC) are in camp ahead of the Nation’s Championship.
“According to Melandi, the only foreign-based player in the camp is Mmeseoma Ugochinyere from Japan,” the statement said.
Melandi, the technical representative on the board of NVBF said the technical committee approved the appointment of Samuel Ajayi as the head coach, assisted by Priscilla Agera.
Already, the players have began training at the indoor sports hall of Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS) in Kaduna State.
Nigeria women’s senior team finished fourth position at the 2021 African Nations Championship held in Kigali, Rwanda.
