CGC Volleyball League Ends with Continental Praise for Nigeria

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) women and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Spikers men have emerged champions at the 2025 Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Volleyball Premier League which ended in grand style in Abuja on saturday. The final phase opened with emphatic victories across several team

Officials of the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB), FIVB technical experts and local stakeholders praised the quality of play, organisation and competitiveness of the league, describing it as clear evidence that Nigerian volleyball has reached a new level.

President of CAVB Zone 3, Ali Yaro, said the championship showed Nigeria’s readiness to host bigger continental events.

“This competition was very good. Nigeria has shown leadership in the zone and has the capacity to host major African competitions,” Yaro said, hinting that the country could host a flagship event such as the African Nations Cup by 2026 or 2027.

FIVB expert Mbaye Dème also commended the technical quality on display.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the level of the players. Nigeria has what it takes to become champions in Africa, both in the men’s and women’s categories,” he said.

CGC Hails League’s Growth

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, described the 2025 edition as a major leap forward for domestic volleyball, citing improved organisation, stronger sponsorship and intense competition. This follows strategic reforms introduced at the kickoff of Phase Two

“The quality of our domestic league is clearly reflecting in the improved performances of Nigerian teams in Africa,” Adeniyi said.

He revealed that the NCS committed ₦48 million in subsidies to support teams’ participation, while prize money was significantly enhanced.

Champions in both categories earned ₦5 million each, runners-up ₦3 million, third-place teams ₦2 million, teams placed fourth to 12th received ₦500,000, and individual award winners got ₦100,000 each.

Adeniyi also announced plans to work with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) to introduce more off-season competitions, including beach volleyball, and encouraged clubs to strengthen their squads with foreign signings ahead of continental championships.

Champions Crowned

In the women’s category, Customs Women completed a historic unbeaten run to lift the title and ₦5 million, sealing an unprecedented hat-trick of league crowns from 2023 to 2025. CNS finished second, while COAS placed third.

Customs head coach, Suleiman Ajegbemi attributed the success to early preparation and institutional backing, while captain Rafiat Mustapha Temitope said the team’s next target is continental glory.

On the men’s side, CNS Spikers reclaimed the league title and ₦5 million after a dominant campaign, completing back-to-back championships. NCS finished runners-up, while NCOS secured their first-ever podium finish in third place.

NVBF Eyes 2026

President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, described the league as a resounding success and announced that the Super Cup will return in January 2026, alongside renewed focus on grassroots development and international exposure.

“The men’s final showed that Nigerian volleyball has truly come of age. We are returning to the level of the glory days,” Nimrod said.

With strong continental backing, rising competitiveness and renewed investment, the 2025 CGC Volleyball Premier League has reinforced Nigeria’s position as a fast-emerging powerhouse in African volleyball and a credible host for future major international events.