By Andrew Abah, Abuja
Team Nigeria’s men’s and women’s hockey teams have returned home after proudly representing the country at the African Hockey Cup of Nations (ACN) held in Ismailia, Egypt.
Comprising all local-based players who trained in camp for over six weeks in Abuja, the Nigerian teams delivered spirited performances against some of Africa’s top hockey nations, including South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and hosts Egypt.
The men’s team secured a bronze medal, their best finish in recent years after defeating Kenya 3–1 in the third-place playoff. Nigeria’s James Samaila emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, netting impressive eight goals.
The women’s team, who have also achieved bronze in previous editions, gave a strong account of themselves, narrowly missing out on a podium finish this time around.
President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Engineer Simon Nkom, while speaking on arrival from Egypt, commended both teams for their dedication, teamwork and resilience, pledging sustained support for the growth of the sport.
“Our players showed the true Nigerian spirit. We’ll keep building on this foundation to achieve greater results,” he said.
Engineer Nkom further expressed pride in the teams’ performances, describing the bronze medal as a major boost for the sport’s development in Nigeria.
“Our players displayed exceptional passion and discipline throughout the competition. This achievement is a significant step forward for Nigerian hockey,” he added.
The Federation expressed appreciation to the Sports Commission, sponsors and fans for their unwavering support and encouragement, reaffirming its commitment to grassroots development and international exposure for Nigerian players ahead of future tournaments.
