Head coach of both the Nigeria men’s and women’s hockey national teams, Ndana Abdullahi, has declared that his squads are “battle-ready” ahead of the upcoming 2025 African Hockey Championship scheduled to hold in Ismailia, Egypt, from October 11 to 18.
Following an extended camping exercise in Abuja, Abdullahi expressed satisfaction with the players’ level of commitment, discipline, and tactical understanding. The preparatory camp, which lasted several weeks, was part of the Hockey Federation of Nigeria’s comprehensive build-up program to ensure both teams put up strong performances on the continental stage.
Read Also: Olopade Remains Confident in Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualification Dream
“We’ve had one of the most intense and productive camping sessions in years,” Abdullahi said. “The players gave their best throughout, and we’ve fine-tuned our formations and fitness levels. I can confidently say both teams are ready to make Nigeria proud in Egypt.”
The coach revealed that the final 18-man rosters for both the men’s and women’s squads were selected from an initial pool of 35 players, following rigorous assessment and evaluation matches. He noted that selection was purely on merit and performance during the camp, emphasizing that only the most dedicated players made the final cut.
“We want players who can fight for the team, not just wear the jersey,” Abdullahi stressed. “Our target is not just to participate, but to challenge for medals — we’re going for the podium.”
Nigeria’s men’s team will aim to surpass their third-place finish at the 2022 edition in Accra, which remains their best-ever result, while the women’s team are chasing their first-ever final appearance, having twice finished third in 2009 and 2017.
“The hunger is there, the preparation is there — now it’s time to deliver,” Abdullahi concluded confidently.
