Nigeria will host the African Nations Volleyball Championship (U18 Girls and U19 Boys) scheduled to hold from 1st to 9th March, 2021, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
According to a letter signed by African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) President, Bouchra Hajij, announcing Nigeria as host of the U19 Boys African Nations Volleyball Championship, the event will be held in accordance with CAVB competition regulations.
The letter reads, “Further to the communication between the CAVB President, Bouchra Hajij and Eng Habu Gumel, we have the pleasure to inform you that CAVB has entrusted the organization of the Boys U19 African Nations Volleyball Championship to Nigeria Volleyball Federation.
“The championship will be used as the continental qualifier to the 2021 FIVB World Championship for Youth Boys U19 and is scheduled to be played from 1st to 9th March, 2021 in Abuja, Nigeria.
“The championship will be held in accordance with CAVB competition regulations. Extracts from the administrative and financial hosting conditions as provided in CAVB competition regulations, are herewith attached”.
In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Hajij in the statement, advised countries attending the championship to adopt the ‘FIVB Return to Volleyball Guidelines’ alongside all the other protocols provided by Nigerian health authorities.
Meanwhile, President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod has revealed that all participating countries at the U18 Girls and U19 Boys Championships will undergo compulsory COVID-19 test on arrival.
He said, “All the countries that will feature at the 2021 African Nations Volleyball Championships (U18 Girls and U19 Boys) will undergo COVID-19 test whenever they enter the country, and no team will play without testing.
“The Nigeria Volleyball Federation has sent the nation’s guidelines to these countries to read them and I am optimistic that they will adhere to the guidelines. Social distancing will be observed for officials, journalists and other invited guests who will watch the championship”.
The Secretary General of CAVB Zone 3 also revealed that in order to avoid crowding the hall, the federation plans to stream the championship live for online viewers.
Nimrod said, “The Federation has made arrangement for all the matches to be live streamed through the official pages of the NVBF and CAVB will also give live updates on their social media handles for spectators around the world”.
A total number of 13 countries are expected to participate at the Nations Volleyball Championship, with Cameroun, Central Africa, Congo RDC, Egypt, Tunisia and Nigeria already confirming their participation.
