JOEL AJAYI
Nigeria Customs Service Volleyball Team produced a remarkable comeback to defeat defending champions chief of Naval Staff Volleyball Team CNS in a thrilling clash at the CGC National Volleyball League.
CNS started on a strong note, taking the opening set 25-18 and putting Customs under early pressure.
However, Customs responded with resilience and determination, quickly regrouping to wrestle control of the contest.
The Customs side bounced back to claim the second set 25-21 before narrowly edging the third set 25-22, swinging the momentum firmly in their favour. They then sealed an emphatic victory with a dominant 25-15 win in the fourth set, completing an 3-1 impressive comeback.
The result marked one of the biggest upsets of the competition, as Customs outclassed the reigning champions with a performance built on discipline, resilience, and attacking efficiency.
Despite their bright start, CNS struggled to maintain their early momentum as Customs grew in confidence and finished strongly to secure a memorable victory.
Speaking after the match, Director of Sports, Nigeria Customs Service, Samuel Onikeku, expressed delight over the team’s performance and praised the commitment of the management toward developing the squad.
“We are very happy with this result and the performance of the team. First, I must congratulate the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the management for their unwavering support.
“We have invested heavily in this team, starting with our coaches. Last year, we began a development programme that saw our coaches travel abroad for Level 2 certification courses, and the last coach recently returned. These preparations are part of our long-term vision.
“Our goal is clear—we want to conquer Africa, and this is part of that journey. We are pushing hard and will not underestimate any opponent.
“We want to gather enough points in this phase to make the second phase easier for us. Last season, we lost the league because we did not perform well enough in the first phase, so we deliberately worked harder this time.
“We took the team to Zone 3 competitions and also to Kigali for exposure and preparation, and what you are seeing now is the result of that investment.
“We also strengthened the team with quality additions, bringing in players who can solve specific problems. They have integrated well and improved the squad significantly.
“Our players understand that they must continue to raise their standards. They have achieved a lot, but there is still much more to accomplish.
“The Comptroller-General continues to set high standards for us, and we have no choice but to align with that vision and keep striving for excellence in sports for the Nigeria Customs Service and for Nigeria.”
