LA 2028 Olympics: Adeniyi Pledges Support for Nigeria’s Historic Beach Volleyball Qualifiers

Posted : 25 August 2026

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has pledged comprehensive support for Nigeria’s beach volleyball duo of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa as they prepare to make history at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Adeniyi made the commitment on Monday in Abuja when he received the players, who recently secured Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic qualification in beach volleyball at the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Alexandria, Egypt.

Mbah and Bawa claimed the continental title after defeating Morocco in the final, having earlier stunned hosts Egypt in the semi-final to book Nigeria’s historic ticket to the Games.

The Customs boss described their achievement as proof that sustained investment, discipline and proper motivation could produce exceptional results in Nigerian sports.

He urged the players to build on their continental success and begin preparations immediately for the Olympic challenge, stressing that their next target should be to establish Nigeria as a dominant force in African beach volleyball and compete successfully against the world’s best.

“You have shown that it is possible. You beat two African teams to qualify. You have shown that it is possible in big competitions,” Adeniyi said.

He challenged the players to maintain the determination that took them to Olympic qualification while working with their officials to develop a strategic preparation programme for Los Angeles.

According to him, the players have demonstrated sufficient quality at the domestic level and must now focus on closing the gap with the leading beach volleyball nations in North Africa, the Arab region and East Africa.

Adeniyi said the creation of the VIPERS team by the Customs Service was part of its broader commitment to identifying and nurturing sporting talents capable of competing at the highest level.

He noted that the initiative had yielded significant results, with the team progressing from National Division One to the Premiership and producing Mbah and Bawa, who went on to represent Nigeria at the African championship.

The Customs boss commended both players for maximising the opportunity provided by the team, saying their Olympic qualification had justified the investment in the project.

Adeniyi, who disclosed that he followed some of their matches in Alexandria, expressed particular satisfaction with their performances against Egypt and Morocco.

He urged the players to take the same level of determination, preparation and confidence to Los Angeles.

“I wanted you to take this same determination, this same preparedness and this desire for glory to the Olympics, and you can be sure that we’ll give you all the support that will give you a podium finish during the Olympics in 2028,” he said.

He further promised to collaborate with the team’s officials to arrange international exposure tours and high-level competitive matches that would expose the players to stronger opponents ahead of the Games.

The Customs chief also said the players would be assessed alongside leading teams from previous Olympic Games to identify areas requiring improvement and develop strategies to bridge the performance gap.

Adeniyi cautioned against treating Nigeria’s qualification as a mere surprise, insisting that Mbah and Bawa must justify their status as African champions when they compete on the global stage.

“You are going there as African champions and you must be the best that Africa has in that particular competition,” he said.

He equally pledged continued support for the players’ welfare and training needs, assuring them that the necessary conditions would be provided to enable them to prepare adequately for the Olympics.

Mbah and Bawa’s qualification represents a landmark achievement for Nigerian beach volleyball, giving the country its first Olympic ticket in the sport and paving the way for Nigeria’s debut in the event at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

LA 2028 Olympics: Adeniyi Pledges Support for Nigeria’s Historic Beach Volleyball Qualifiers

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