Nigeria’s volleyball team, on Monday, defeated Morocco 3-0 in their first match at the ongoing 2022 African Under 21 Men’s Nations Volleyball Championship in Tunisia.
They defeated their counterparts in Morocco in a straight
set (25-12, 25-16, 25-20) to make the score 3-0 in Tunis.
Nigeria sent a strong signal in the first set leading 7-0
before Morocco got a point off the West African side.
They pummelled the North African side 25-12 with 13 points
difference in the first set.
Although the North African side gave their best in the
second and third sets, the Nigerian team overcame them in style in the second
set 25-16 and in the third set 25-20.
Sani Mohammed, the Nigerian team coach said the target of
the team was to qualify for the 2023 FIVB U21 Men’s World Championship.
“The team will not be carried away with the win against
Morocco. The win is an indication that the team is ready to take on other teams
in the Championships.
“Gambia is a familiar team; Nigeria played against them at
the Under 19 African Championships and they were the strong team to beat. We
have to beat the Gambia and the host Tunisia to top our group or probably place
second,” he said.
Michael Abari, the captain, gave an assurance that the team
would defeat their next opponent in their second game
“We know that the Gambia has a strong team, this is not the
first time we are meeting them and we have defeated them before. We will
definitely defeat them in our next match on Tuesday, our next match will be
victorious,” he said.
Nigeria is grouped alongside Morocco, Gambia and the host
Tunisia. Per schedule, Nigeria will meet Gambia on Tuesday. They will play
Tunisia in their third match on Wednesday.
Eight countries: Morocco, Nigeria, Gambia, Egypt, Cameroon,
Rwanda, Libya and the host Tunisia are participating in the Championships.