On Monday, January 29, 2024, history will unfold at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium as the men and women para volleyball teams of Nigeria will embark on a campaign to secure a spot in the 2024 Paralympics. This momentous day marks the inaugural effort of the Nigerian national teams to qualify for the prestigious global sporting event. Hosted by the Nigerian Para Volleyball Federation, led by Kayode Ladele, the event welcomes teams from Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Algeria, and Libya, all vying for a chance to participate in the Paralympic Games in Paris.
Reviewing the origins of this journey, Ladele disclosed that upon assuming the board's leadership, they identified the imperative of establishing a sustainable structure. Consequently, they enlisted the expertise of Egyptian coach Elaiuty Mosaad to create a comprehensive technical framework for players and coaches.
Speaking ahead of the qualifiers, he said, ‘In preparing them for this, when we started, we got a foreign coach to come from Egypt who was one of the best coaches in the world in sitting volleyball. He spent a month with players and selected coaches, to prepare them.
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Explaining the choice of Mosaad who led Egypt to a bronze medal finish at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the NPVF president said getting one of the best coaches in the world with a proven track record was non-negotiable.
He praised the players in camps for their commitment as he said their mental and technical readiness will go a long way in guaranteeing their chances at the Paralympic Games later this year.
In Group A, Nigeria is paired with Egypt, Morocco, and Kenya for the men's team, while the women's team will face competition from Kenya, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.The Nigerian men's team will get their campaign underway with a game against Kenya, and the women will square off against Zimbabwe.