Joel Ajayi
With just days to the 2025 Hockey Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set for October 11–18 in Egypt, the President of the Hockey Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Engineer Simon Nkom, has expressed strong confidence that both the men’s and women’s national teams are primed to deliver podium finishes and make the nation proud.
After years of steady rebuilding, Nigeria’s hockey revival is set for its biggest test yet.
Speaking in Abuja after weekend friendly matches involving both teams at the Hockey Pitch, Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Nkom said the federation’s comprehensive preparation programme was designed to ensure that the players are fully conditioned for the rigours of the continent’s top competition.
“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. 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,” he affirmed.
According to Nkom, Nigerian hockey has recorded remarkable progress in recent years, with the country’s global ranking improving from 56th to 36th. In Hockey5s, Nigeria now sits 12th in the world.
“A few years ago, people doubted if hockey still existed in Nigeria. Today, our women’s team ranks 3rd in Africa, and the men’s team is 4th. These achievements reflect our dedication to grassroots development and continuous improvement,” he added.
To prevent the common issue of late arrivals at international tournaments, Nkom confirmed that both teams will depart Nigeria on October 7 to acclimatize and play a few warm-up matches ahead of the competition.
“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.
He also commended the HFN board for its commitment and teamwork over the past four years, noting that their collective effort has driven the sport’s steady progress across the country.
Head coach Ndana Baba Abdullahi, who oversees both the men’s and women’s teams, praised the federation’s support and lauded the players’ work ethic throughout the extended training camp.
“We’ve worked very hard — morning and evening sessions, tactical drills, conditioning. The players have responded excellently. We started with 35 players and are now down to the final 18 who will make the trip,” Abdullahi said, adding that the early arrival in Egypt would give Nigeria a crucial psychological and tactical edge.
Men’s team captain, Michael John, expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness and determination to make history in Egypt.
“We’re perfectly fine — we’ve trained hard and prepared well,” he said. “We’re just waiting for the whistle to blow. By God’s grace, we won’t disappoint our country or those who worked hard to send us there.”
Similarly, women’s team captain, Alfa Cornelius, echoed optimism about the team’s prospects.
“We’ve been camping for over a month, and the coaches have done a wonderful job. We’ve worked hard to match our opponents in both strength and skill. I’m 100% confident that we’ll perform excellently in Egypt,” she said.
The men’s championship will feature Zambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and hosts Egypt, while the women’s event will see Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt battle for top honours.
