…commends NSC for tremendous support
President of the Hockey Federation of Nigeria, HFN, Engineer Simon Nkom said they are set to storm Egypt for the forthcoming Hockey African Cup of Nations, which will take place between 11th and 18th of October, 2025.
He made this disclosure while briefing the media during a novelty match between the National Team and their male counterparts at the Hockey Pitch of the Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday.
Engr. Nkom disclosed that the team will be leaving the shores of the country on Tuesday, 7th of October, 2025. He said before now, Nigerian team is known for late coming but they have decided to leave on time so that the players can acclimatise on time with the weather in Egypt and also play some warm-up matches.
However, Engr. Nkom is confident that the male and female national teams will make the country proud, not only with outstanding performances but with podium finishes.
He assured that they have prepared the team very well and also ensured that they played enough friendly matches. His words, “In sports, whether hockey, handball, or basketball, fitness is everything. That’s why we began camping weeks ago to toughen the players for the demands of this championship.
“This is not a local event; it’s the African Cup of Nations, the highest level on the continent. We’ve done the work, the players are ready, and we’re confident of a podium finish,” he assured.
He recalled that in recent times, Hockey in Nigeria has enjoyed tremendous progress. He said, “Nigerian hockey has recorded remarkable progress in recent years, with the country’s global ranking improving from 56th to 36th. Nigeria now sits 12th in the world. A few years ago, people doubted if hockey still existed in Nigeria.
“Today, our women’s team ranks 3rd in Africa, and the men’s team is 4th. These achievements reflect our dedication to grassroots development and continuous improvement,” he said.
The Hockey President however commended the National Sports Commission, NSC led by its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade for the tremendous support and for making their preparation and journey prompt and smooth.
Engr. Nkom also thanked his board members for their commitments and teamworks over the years, noting that their efforts had helped the growth of hockey in the country.
Also speaking, the Technical Head of the male and female teams, Ndana Baba Abdullahi said they are not under pressure to win the trophy but they are sure of putting up a podium performance.
Captain of the team, Michael John assured that they will make history by getting to the final and make the country proud even though they are under any pressure from the Federation.
Nigeria will be featuring male and female teams alongside Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and hosts Egypt, while Zambia will feature only a male team.
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