Nigeria Names Squad for 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Championship

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Nigeria’s senior men’s volleyball team is in Tunisia for the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Championship with a 14-man squad led by outside hitter Abdulquadri Jaiyeola.

Head coach Ryan Masajedi has selected two setters, two opposite hitters, four outside hitters, four middle blockers and two liberos for the continental championship, which also serves as part of the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Bruno Ibeh and Adeniyi Favour will handle the setting duties, while Armstrong Udoka and Okonkwo Ebuka have been selected as the two opposite hitters.

The outside hitter position features captain Jaiyeola alongside Ogunshina Obayemi, Emmanuel Udah and Faruk Lucky.

Anele Timothy, Pascal Ozokoye, Kaseem Mutiu and Army Ferdinand make up the middle blockers, while Abednego Hassan and Tiamiyu Ismail are the two liberos.

Masajedi will be supported by Taiwo Oladipupo as first assistant coach, with Jonah Adamu serving as second assistant.

Nigeria has also been drawn in Group C alongside Algeria and Chad for the championship in Tunisia.

The team will be looking to progress from the group stage, with Masajedi making it clear that Nigeria will approach each game seriously and avoid underrating any of its opponents.

The championship brings together some of Africa’s leading men’s volleyball teams, with the competition also carrying significance in the race for qualification to the 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria last featured at the African Men’s Volleyball Championship in 2021, finishing seventh in Rwanda after defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 in the classification match. The country missed the 2023 edition.

The 2026 championship therefore gives Nigeria another opportunity to return to the continental stage and improve on its previous finish.