The Nigeria Volleyball Federation has released a list of 12 players for the 2023 CAVB U21 Girls Zone 3 Nations Cup holding between 3rd and 10th July in Niger Republic.
The Federation in a statement issued Thursday by its Technical Director, Martin Melandi, said the team would depart Nigeria on Sunday.
Topping the list of players is the 2022 Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Nigeria Volleyball Premier League, Kelechi Ndukaba and 2022 Best Libero at the CAVB U19 Girls Championship, Mariam Usman.
Nigeria U21 volleyball women’s team coach, Rakiya Mohammed promised that her technical team are working diligently to make the nation proud.
Mohammed will work with Dennis Eleri (Assistant Coach); and Anthony Torbundeh (Assistant Coach).
She said the Nation Cup will help build the confidence of the players and put them in shape ahead of the FIVB U19 World Championship next August.
Mohammed was quoted to have said: “We know that some work still has to be done within the next few days to put the team in great form,
“I am happy with the level of work we have done and the kind of playing personnel at our disposal. I believe everything will come together beautifully and we will have a team that will make the country proud at the tournament.”
“A large nucleus of the team is dominated by the U19 Girls who are preparing for the FIVB World Championship. I believe the Zone 3 Nations Cup will be an avenue for them to put them in shape”.
The invited players are: Aisha Abdulraheem (CNS Spikers), Kelechi Ndukaba (Niger Ravens), Maryam Ibrahim (Niger Ravens), Sarah Ali (COAS Spikers), Deborah Chukwu (COAS Spikers), Fadilat Ibrahim (Kada Emeralds), Verity Onyegwu (CNS Spikers), Mariam Usman (CNS Spikers), Ifunaya Udeagbala (Anambra VB), Aliyat Usman (CNS Spikers), Mary Ishiaku (Life Camp VC) and Chilota Marvellous (Kada Emeralds).