Head of Sports, Nigeria Customs Service, Samuel Onikeku, says the NCS women’s volleyball team’s unbeaten run is a first in Nigerian volleyball history.
Onikeku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the team completed the 2025 Comptroller-General of Customs Volleyball Premier League without a single defeat in both phases.
He said the women’s team won all 20 matches across both phases of the league to clinch the title in emphatic fashion.
“The women won 10 matches in the first phase and another 10 in the final phase. This has never happened before in Nigerian volleyball,” he said.
Onikeku described the achievement as unprecedented and a historic milestone for the sport in the country.
“This is the first time a women’s team has gone through an entire league season unbeaten. We are extremely proud of this feat,” he said.
He expressed delight with the overall performance of the NCS teams, saying that both the women and men`s sides exceeded expectations.
“We are thrilled that we have made the Comptroller-General of Customs and the entire Nigeria Customs Service proud,” he said.
According to him, the men’s team also recorded significant improvement, losing just one match in the first phase.
He said the men went on to defeat all opponents in the second phase to finish second overall.
“This is a major improvement from last season when the men finished sixth. It shows clear progress,” he said.
Onikeku praised the players for their discipline, commitment, and resilience, as well as the medals and trophies won by NCS athletes.
He said the teams’ focus has now shifted to continental competitions following encouragement from the Comptroller-General of Customs.
“When the CGC addressed the ladies, he made it clear that our next target is North Africa,” Onikeku said.
He noted that the team also won the West African title in Ghana, defeating all opponents.
“We want to challenge Africa’s traditional powerhouses like Egypt, Tunisia, and Kenya,” he said.
Onikeku said the teams are confident of winning the African Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in the future.
He attributed the success to deliberate planning, technical restructuring, and sustained motivation.
“After our poor outing in 2024, we opened camp early, refreshed the squad, and strengthened our technical crew,” he said.
Onikeku said experienced professionals, including Olympians and technical directors, have been vital to the teams’ progress.
According to him, the men’s unbeaten run in the second phase was boosted by exposure from international competitions in Ghana.
“The experience gained abroad helped the team tremendously, and I expect them to be strong contenders next season,” he said.
He added that a detailed roadmap and key performance indicators are being prepared for submission to the Comptroller-General of Customs.
“We plan to bring in international players to challenge our local stars and push us toward African titles,” Onikeku said.
He expressed confidence that with continued support, the teams will make Nigeria proud on the continental stage in 2026.
In the women’s standings, NCS finished first with 63 sets won, five loses, and 63 points while in the men’s standings, NCS placed second with 62 sets won, 18 loses, and 57 points.
