By Daily Sports Nigeria on October 6, 2025

Nigeria is targeting another podium finish at the 2025 Hockey Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, with both the men’s and women’s national teams brimming with confidence ahead of the continental showpiece, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The president of the Hockey Federation of Nigeria, Simon Nkom, has expressed optimism that the country’s representatives are fully prepared to make the nation proud when the tournament gets underway in Ismailia from October 11 to 18.

After years of steady rebuilding, Nigerian hockey is set for its biggest continental test as both teams aim to cement their resurgence with medals on African soil.

Speaking in Abuja following weekend friendly matches at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Nkom said the federation’s comprehensive preparation programme was designed to ensure the players were in peak condition for the challenge ahead.

“In sports, whether hockey, handball or basketball, fitness is everything. That’s why we began camping weeks ago to toughen the players for the demands of this championship,” Nkom explained. “This is not a local event; it’s the African Cup of Nations, the highest level on the continent. We’ve done the work, the players are ready, and we’re confident of a podium finish.”

The HFN president said Nigeria’s recent progress in global and continental rankings reflected years of consistent investment in grassroots development.

According to him, the country now sits 36th in the world, up from 56th, while ranking 12th globally in the fast-growing Hockey5s format.

“A few years ago, people doubted if hockey still existed in Nigeria. Today, our achievements reflect our dedication to development and continuous improvement,” he said.

To ensure proper acclimatisation, Nkom confirmed that both teams will depart Nigeria on October 7, four days before the opening whistle, to play warm-up matches and adapt to conditions in Egypt.

“We’ve made arrangements for early departure. The players are calm and focused. I’ve told them to play freely and give their best; the results will follow. By God’s grace, they’ll return home proud and victorious,” he said.

Head coach Ndana Abdullahi, who leads both national teams, credited the players’ work ethic and the federation’s backing for the teams’ readiness.

“We’ve worked very hard, with morning and evening sessions focused on tactical drills and conditioning. The players have responded excellently. We started with 35 players and are now down to the final 18 who will make the trip,” he said, adding that the early arrival in Egypt would provide a crucial psychological and tactical advantage.

Nigeria’s men will be seeking to surpass their third-place finish at the 2022 edition in Accra, their best-ever result, while the women’s team are chasing their first-ever final appearance, having twice finished third in 2009 and 2017.

Source Punch Ng

Posted October 6, 2025

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