Nigeria and Benin Republic beach volleyball teams have qualified for the 2022 African Youth Games on Sunday.

Nigeria beat Niger Republic 2-0 (21-13, 22-20) in the boy’s match to complete their unbeaten run at the just concluded 2022 Zone III African Youth Games Qualification Beach Volleyball held at Mobee Palace, Badagry, Lagos state.

In the girl’s category, Nigeria beat Benin Republic twice 2-0 (21-14, 21-11) and 2-0 (21-8, 21-8) to garner 8 points and make it to the African Youth Games.

Nigeria boy’s team finished top with 12 points followed by Benin Republic in second with 9 points. Niger Republic placed third with 6 points while Ivory Coast occupied fourth position with 3 points.

The Secretary General of Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone III, Engineer Musa Nimrod commended the participating teams for making qualification a success.

He hailed the Mobee of Badagry for providing the beach volleyball facilities and crowd support during the qualifiers.

Nimrod who is the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation said, “The 2022 Zone III African Youth Games Qualification Beach Volleyball was successful and I want to thank the Mobee of Badagry for providing the facilities and the people of Badagry are great; CAVB Zone III executives want to thank the countries that participated.

“It is not a surprise that Nigeria qualified for the African Youth Games and we will put in a lot of effort because the games proper is not easy. The coaches have seen the weaknesses of the players; the Federation will begin the Beach Tour in July and it will strengthen the players.”, Nimrod revealed.

He said, “Benin, Nigeria and Niger Republic are good in Beach Volleyball as far as i am concerned; I want to thank Ivory Coast for making it to the qualifiers. it is a great experience and i am optimistic the qualifiers will make Ivory Coast take beach volleyball serious”.

Flying Eagles and Water FC product Nathaniel Nwosu has been named by Confederation of African Football, CAF as the best goalkeeper at the just concluded WAFU B Tournament held in Niamey, Niger Republic.

Nathaniel Nwosu, 6.2 feet goalkeeper whose greatest strength is good timing of the ball, reflex, and as well agility in between the stick, typical of Chelsea legend, Petr Cech.

Nwosu was joined by two other Flying Eagles players in Daniel Daga and Tolulope Ojo in the team of tourney.

Nigeria defeated Benin Republic 3-1 in the final to qualify for the main championship billed for Cairo, Egypt later in the year.

No doubt, Nwosu is such a promising goalkeeper, having had a remarkable tournament in Niger Republic.

Nathaniel Nwosu, will gradually graduate to the Super Eagles in a short time. He has got all the quality needed as goalkeeper.  No doubt he is destined to be invited to the Super Eagles in the shortest time.

His height, good communication skills with the defense line and above all, such a terrific goalkeeper, when it comes to one-on-one situation.

Bosso, while fielding questions from newsmen after the game acknowledged that the team had received the best of support from the ministry of sport through NFF and despite their level of preparation, his boys failure to convert their chances has cost them the defeat.

“We had good chances that could have been used to finish the game in the first half but we couldn’t do that. They had only one chance and got it – we had three of those free kicks and we couldn’t let it in”, he lamented.

Noting that his lads performance bettered that of the last game, he insisted that; “it was unfortunate this time around we were very wasteful.

He pointed out that another influence which affected the outcome of the game was the  unavailability of some players.

“Two of our players were partially affected with Covid-19 and now in isolation, with another one not fit for the match, we only have to use the ones we have on ground.

“We had good chances that could have been used to finish the game in the first half but we couldn’t do that. They had only one chance and got it – we had three of those free kicks and we couldn’t let it in” he lamented.

The former FC IfeanyiUbah gaffer who played down interference in players selection for the team said all the players had come through a meritorious process. He hopes Nigerian will be fair to them in assessment as he tagged them a ‘future team’

Flying Eagles had played a 1-1 draw against Cote d’ivore in their first game and might now have to wait as the result of the next match between Ghana and the latter will determine their fate of advancing to the next stage.

Sy will be assisted by compatriots Nouha Bangoura (assistant referee 1), El Hadji Abdoul Aziz Gueye (assistant referee 2) and Fatou Thioune (fourth official) at the encounter scheduled for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, from 5pm.

The Day 1 clash in the qualifying series will also see Munkaila Nassam Adam from Ghana as match commissioner while Kria Samir Bouzareah from Algeria will play the role of referee assessor.

Nigeria will welcome back skipper Ahmed Musa from injury, with defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Abdullahi Shehu and Bryan Idowu, as well as midfielder Mikel Agu and forward Samuel Kalu also returning.

The Super Eagles, bronze medallists at the 32^nd AFCON finals in Egypt this year summer, will then fly to Maseru on Friday, 15^th November for the Day 2 clash with the Crocodiles of Lesotho, billed for the artificial turf of the Maseru-Setsoto Stadium as from 6pm Lesotho time (5pm Nigeria time) on Sunday, 17^th November.

23 EAGLES TO BATTLE BENIN REPUBLIC & LESOTHO

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany)

Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Midfielders: Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge, Belgium); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France);

Standby: Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City, England)