In preparation for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers, the Nigerian women’s beach volleyball team continues their tour of Africa with coach Kayode Ajilore’s side landing in the Republic of Benin from Lome, PRIMANEWS Sports Extra reports.
The qualifiers for the Olympics will be held in Morocco from June 19 to 23.
The Nigerian women’s beach volleyball team resumed camp last month as they began preparations with nine players, who have been training under the supervision of Ajilore as they hope to pick the only ticket from Africa.
As part of the plans to give adequate preparation, a tour of Africa was arranged by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation and after a few days of delay, the team travelled out of the country on Monday for Togo.
They were involved in several friendly games before departing Lome for Cotonou.
Speaking with PRIMANEWS Sports Extra, Dare Kuti, media assistant to the president of the volleyball federation, confirmed to our correspondent that the team had landed in Benin Republic where they are scheduled to engage in some friendlies.
“The Nigeria women’s beach volleyball players have begun their training camp in Cotonou, Benin Republic,” he said.
“The contingent left Kaduna to Lome via Lagos for the beach training tour in preparation for the Continental Beach Championship/ Olympics qualifier to be held in Morocco.
“They will play some friendly matches in Cotonou on their way back and stay in Badagry where they will conclude their camping before proceeding to Morocco courtesy of our President Musa Nimrod.”
Meanwhile, PRIMANEWS Sports Extra learnt that five players were dropped ahead of the tour.
The players selected for the tour are Esther Mbah, Pamela Bawa, Naomi Yaro, and Ifunanya Udeagbala.
The women’s beach volleyball team won bronze at the 13th African Games in Ghana to book a place in the qualifiers.
Hosts France were automatically granted one out of the 24 spots at the Olympics, while the United States, winners of the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships, also secured one spot.
According to FIVB, the winners of each of the five continental confederations’ Olympic qualification events earn one spot and Nigeria will hope to pick the available slot from Africa.
