Nigeria’s hockey teams are heading to Egypt with confidence and conviction as they prepare to challenge the continent’s best at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Ismailia.
Both the men’s and women’s national teams will depart Nigeria on October 7 ahead of the continental championship, which runs from October 11 to 18, featuring top African sides including South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia.
President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Engineer Simon Nkom, said the teams’ early preparations and improved organization show how far Nigerian hockey has evolved.
“This is not a club championship — this is Africa’s biggest stage,” Nkom said. “We have trained for weeks, built our fitness, and refined our tactics. Nigeria will not go to Egypt to participate; we are going to compete.”
Nkom highlighted Nigeria’s steady rise in global hockey standings as proof of the federation’s progress.
“Just four years ago, we were 56th in the world. Today, we’re 36th,” he noted. “In hockey 5s, we’re ranked 12th globally. Our women are third in Africa, and the men are fourth. The world is starting to take Nigerian hockey seriously.”
He credited the improvement to NHF’s grassroots development strategy, which focuses on nurturing young talent early.
“You can see 12-year-olds training with the senior national team — that’s the future we’re building,” Nkom explained. “Most of our current players were discovered young. We train them right and give them a clear path to the top.”
In contrast to previous tournaments, Nkom confirmed that all travel and logistics have been finalized ahead of schedule.
“We’ve learned from the past,” he said. “The teams will leave on October 7 and arrive in Egypt on the 8th — three full days before kickoff. In the past, we sometimes arrived and went straight into matches. That affected morale and performance. Now, we’re doing things the right way.”
He also emphasized the importance of traveling as a unit.
“This time, no last-minute scrambling. The teams will travel together — not in batches. That’s professionalism. We’ve planned early and secured everything. This is a new chapter for Nigerian hockey.”
Head coach Ndana Baba Abdullahi, who oversees both squads, praised the players’ commitment throughout an intense training camp.
“We’ve worked very hard — morning and evening sessions, tactical drills, conditioning,” Abdullahi said. “The players have responded excellently. We started with 35 and now have the final 18 who will represent Nigeria.”
He added that the early arrival in Egypt would provide a crucial advantage.
“This is the first time we’re arriving early for a major championship,” he explained. “It’ll help us adjust to the field, play warm-up games, and build confidence. That’s the level of professionalism we’ve been pushing for.”
Despite the high expectations, Abdullahi insists the players remain focused and grounded.
“When you study well, you expect good results,” he said with a smile. “We’ve done the hard work, and I’m confident of a podium finish. The team is calm, focused, and ready.”
About the Author
