Nigeria’s national men’s volleyball team, coached by Ryan Masajedi, secured a quarter-final place at the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship after a hard-fought 3–2 comeback victory over Algeria in their final group match.
The Nigeria volleyball victory, achieved in a tense five-set contest, saw the Zone 3 champions recover twice from behind to win 23–25, 25–19, 21–25, 25–20, 15–12, underlining their growing confidence and competitive edge at the tournament.
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Head coach Ryan Masajedi praised the team’s response to adversity, noting the composure shown after losing the opening set.
“I am impressed with the way the players picked up after losing the first set. The set was in our hands but the Algerians were lucky it went in their favour,” Masajedi said.
Nigeria began the encounter brightly but narrowly dropped the first set before levelling the match in the second. Algeria regained control in the third set, placing pressure on the Nigerian side, but a determined fourth-set display forced a decisive tie-break.
In the final set, Nigeria held firm to complete a spirited comeback, a performance Masajedi described as evidence of the squad’s mental strength.
“The players have once again shown that they can perform under any circumstances and they picked up after the first set and we ended up winning the match,” Masajedi added.
The result follows Nigeria’s opening 3–0 win over Chad, where the team recorded 25–17, 25–17, 25–16 set victories.
Masajedi said the latest win reinforces the team’s status as genuine contenders. He noted that the performance against Algeria demonstrated that the earlier result was no coincidence.
Nigeria entered the championship with clear ambitions, including securing Africa’s sole qualification slot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and earning a place at the 2027 FIVB World Championship.
The team’s progression to the quarter-finals keeps those ambitions firmly within reach.
In recent editions of the African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship, North African teams such as Tunisia and Egypt have dominated the latter stages, making Nigeria’s steady rise a notable development in the continental landscape.
Masajedi urged his players to remain focused as the competition intensifies, warning against complacency despite the morale-boosting win.
The coach also acknowledged the support from fans back home, describing it as a vital source of motivation for the squad.
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The victory not only secures Nigeria’s place in the knockout phase but also sends a powerful signal about the team’s resilience and intent as the championship progresses.
