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As Hockey African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to take place in Egypt from October 11 to 18, featuring top African teams. Nigeria’s President of the Hockey Federation, Engineer Simon Nkom, expressed optimism about the country’s chances, highlighting the teams’ rigorous preparation and improved rankings.
Nkom said the Federation’s early and intensive preparation was aimed at ensuring the teams are physically and mentally ready for the continental challenge.
“The important thing about sports, be it hockey, handball, basketball, or any other, is fitness. That is why we began camping weeks ago to condition the players for the rigours of the upcoming tournament. This is not a local league or club championship; it is the African Cup of Nations, the highest competition on the continent. So, we are preparing thoroughly, and we are impressed with the level of preparedness so far. We are hopeful of a podium finish,” he stated.
The HFN boss highlighted the remarkable progress of Nigerian hockey in recent years, noting that the country’s global ranking has improved from 56th to 36th in just four years.
“A few years ago, people asked whether hockey was even played in Nigeria. Today, our story has changed. In Hockey, we are ranked 12th in the world. On the continent, the women’s team is ranked 3rd, while the men’s team is 4th in Africa. This growth is a result of our aggressive grassroots development initiatives,” he added.
He reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to ensuring smooth logistics for the tournament, emphasizing that the teams will depart Nigeria on October 7 to acclimatize and play some friendly matches before the competition begins.
“In the past, we often arrived late for competitions due to funding challenges. But this time, all arrangements have been made for the teams to leave early. We are not under any pressure; I have told the players to play their game, stay focused, and the results will come. By the grace of God, they will return home with their heads held high,” he assured.
The HFN President also commended the dedication and commitment of the federation’s board members over the past four years, crediting them for the significant progress recorded in Nigerian hockey.
For the men’s category, six countries Zambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and hosts Egypt will compete while the women’s event will feature five teams, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt.
Head coach, Ndana Baba Abdullahi, who oversees both the men’s and women’s teams, praised the federation’s support and lauded the players’ work ethic throughout the extended training camp.
“We’ve worked very hard, morning and evening sessions, tactical drills, conditioning. The players have responded excellently. We started with 35 players and are now down to the final 18 who will make the trip,” Abdullahi said, adding that the early arrival in Egypt would give Nigeria a crucial psychological and tactical edge.
Men’s team captain, Michael John, expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness and determination to make history in Egypt.
“We’re perfectly fine, we’ve trained hard and prepared well. We’re just waiting for the whistle to blow. By God’s grace, we won’t disappoint our country or those who worked hard to send us there.”
Similarly, women’s team captain, Alfa Cornelius, echoed optimism about the team’s prospects.
“We’ve been camping for over a month, and the coaches have done a wonderful job. We’ve worked hard to match our opponents in both strength and skill. I’m 100% confident that we’ll perform excellently in Egypt,” she said.
The men’s championship will feature Zambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and hosts Egypt, while the women’s event will see Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt battle for top honours.
