Newly appointed Nigeria volleyball Technical Adviser Ryan Masajedi says the country has an abundance of talented players, but believes greater attention to fundamentals and positional discipline could help the national team compete strongly at the 2026 African Women’s Nations Volleyball Championship in Nairobi.

The Japanese tactician, who was unveiled by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation earlier this month, has immediately taken charge of preparations for the women’s senior team ahead of the continental championship, which begins in Nairobi on August 23. The tournament runs until September 5 and brings together 16 of Africa’s leading women’s volleyball nations.

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Masajedi, who has previously worked with teams in Japan, Iran, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Italy, said he has been impressed by what he has seen from the Nigerian players since beginning work with the team. His coaching background includes a spell as assistant coach at Allianz Milano before taking up the Nigeria assignment.

“You already have so many good, talented and physically strong players,” Masajedi said.

“The only thing we were missing was the basic things, the fundamental techniques, which are most important.”

The 47-year-old coach explained that much of the team’s preparation has focused on ensuring that players understand exactly what is required of them in their respective positions.

“For each position, we made everything clear,” he said. “I was very happy with their efforts during this first period, and they have been developing well.”

Masajedi’s approach represents a significant change in Nigeria’s preparation, with the federation bringing in an experienced foreign technical adviser to strengthen the national teams ahead of major international competitions.

Nigeria Volleyball Federation president Musa Nimrod said the Japanese coach would work not only with the senior women’s team but also with the men’s national team and the federation’s wider development programmes.

“Coach Ryan Masajedi will immediately join the national women’s team in camp as preparations continue for the 2026 African Nations Championship in Kenya,” Nimrod said at the coach’s unveiling.

“He will also take charge of the men’s national team for the African Nations Championship in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

The federation has also given Masajedi a broader development mandate, including visiting Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to identify young talent and work with local coaches.

That long-term objective appears to fit the coach’s philosophy, with Masajedi stressing the importance of building players from the fundamentals upwards rather than relying solely on physical ability.

Nigeria’s immediate challenge, however, is in Nairobi, where the country will face some of the strongest teams on the continent.

The 2026 African Women’s Nations Volleyball Championship features 16 nations, including defending champions Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco and Uganda.

The stakes are also considerably higher than the African title alone.

The championship forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship. Under the continental qualification system, the African champion earns an Olympic quota, while the leading eligible teams can secure places at the 2027 World Championship.

Masajedi therefore knows his first major assignment with Nigeria carries enormous significance.

But after several weeks working with the players, the Japanese coach believes the raw material is already there.

“The players have been developing well,” he said, pointing to the response he has received from the squad during the intensive preparation period.

With Nigeria now heading into one of the biggest women’s volleyball tournaments on the continent, Masajedi’s challenge is to turn that talent into results — and potentially put Nigeria on the road to Los Angeles 2028.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudiness and thunderstorms from Monday to Wednesday nationwide.

‎NiMet’s weather outlook released in Abuja envisaged patches of clouds over the northern region on Monday morning.

‎According to the outlook, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over the region later in the day.

‎”Cloudy atmosphere is anticipated over the entire North-Central region in the morning hours. Isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over most parts of FCT, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Plateau states later in the day.

‎”Cloudy skies are anticipated over the southern region with chances of light rains over parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross ‎River and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours.

‎”Later in the day, intermittent moderate rains are expected over most parts of the region,” it said.

The agency anticipated patches of clouds over the northern region with chances of morning thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Taraba, and Adamawa states.

NiMet forecast thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over most parts of the region later in the day.

‎It envisaged a cloudy atmosphere over the North-Central region with prospects of thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of Benue, Kogi, Plateau and Nasarawa states during the morning hours.

NiMet predicted isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains over the entire region later in the day.

‎”Cloudy atmosphere is anticipated over the southern region, with chances of light rains over parts of Ebonyi, Cross River, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States during the morning hours.

‎”By the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over parts of Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Enugu, ‎Abia, Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, Lagos, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States,” it said.

According to NiMet, patches of clouds are expected over the northern region with prospects of thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over parts of Taraba, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States during the morning hours on Wednesday.

‎The agency predicted thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over most parts of the region later in the day.

‎It forecast cloudy skies over the North-Central region with prospects of thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of Nasarawa and Plateau states during the morning hours.

“By the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected over most parts of the region.

‎”For the southern region, a cloudy atmosphere is anticipated over the region with chances of intermittent light rains over parts of South-East and its coastal parts during the morning hours.

‎”By the afternoon and evening hours, ‎intermittent moderate rains are expected over the entire region,” it said.

According to NiMet, strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely, adding that the public should take adequate precautions and secure loose objects to avoid collisions.

‎It urged the public to avoid driving in heavy rain, disconnect electrical appliances from sockets, and stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees.

”Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet ‎for effective planning in their operations.

“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website,” the agency added.

(NAN)