NVBF Invites 22 Players To Camp For African Men’s Volleyball Championship

The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has invited 22 players to camp ahead of the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in Tunis, Tunisia.

The championship, initially scheduled to be hosted by the Democratic Republic of Congo, was relocated to Tunisia and will take place from September 13 to 27.

The invited players comprise four setters, five middle blockers, six outside hitters, four opposites and three liberos, with four foreign-based players headlining the squad.

The overseas-based quartet are Arinze Nwachukwu, Vincent Mathias, Pascal Okoye and Izuchukwu Oforah, while the remaining 18 players were selected from clubs competing in the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League.

The national team will be coached by Japanese tactician Ryan Masajedi, with Taiwo Oladipupo, Tswevini Yohanna and Jonah Adamu serving as his assistants.

Technical Chairman of the NVBF Board, Prince Tunde Omisore, expressed confidence in Masajedi’s ability to guide the team, saying the Japanese coach’s experience would be valuable to Nigeria’s campaign.

Omisore also disclosed that the team’s camping programme would begin on Saturday, August 22, immediately after the departure of the women’s national team for the 2026 African Championship in Kenya.

The players invited to camp are:

Setters: Bruno Ibeh, Favour Adeniyi, Elisha Anebi and Emmanuel Oko.

Middle Blockers: Timothy Anele, Pascal Okoye, Jubril Mora, Kazeem Mutiu and Ferdinand Army.

Outside Hitters: Abdulquadri Jaiyeola, Obayemi Ogunshina, Izuchukwu Oforah, Emmanuel Udah, Chukwuemeka Anachuna and Lucky Faruk.

Opposites: Vincent Mathias, Armstrong Eozofor, Arinze Nwachukwu and Ebuka Okonkwo.

Liberos: Abednego Hassan, Ismail Tiamiyu and Precious Peter.

The camping exercise is expected to provide Masajedi and his technical crew with the opportunity to assess the players and build a competitive squad ahead of the continental championship.

Nigeria will be aiming to make a strong impression in Tunisia as the team begins preparations for the tournament, which brings together Africa’s leading men’s volleyball nations.