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Nigeria beat Mali 3-0 at 2023 Nations Championship opener
Nigeria defeated Mali 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-20) in their first match at the ongoing 2023 African Senior Women's Volleyball Championship in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Nigeria's campaign got off to a rocky start, dropping the first three sets of points. Nigeria caught up and won the set by a score of 25 to 18 after Mali had led by 14 points.
With the addition of Happy Wushilang and Sandra Ozabor, who made six straight points from the serve, Nigeria played better in the second set. Nigeria dominated the second set, winning by a score of 25 to 14.
For the first time in the game, Nigeria took the first point in the third set before going on to win the third set by 25 to 20 points.
Samuel Ajayi confidence of his Players
Reacting to the victory, the head coach of Nigeria women's volleyball team, Samuel Ajayi remarked that while his team was apprehensive in the opening set, they overcame it as the match went on.
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He said, "I feel good and I hope the people back at home will be happy with the results; I thank God for the girls.
"At the beginning of the first set, the players were nervous, trying to have the feeling of the hall but I thank God as the match progressed, the girls started picking up and were able to get the maximum points against Mali."
"When the girls were losing by five points in the first set, I knew they would recover. It was the first game and the girls would be playing a country for the first time as a team. Remember, I infused some U19 players and this is like a rebuilding process for the future.
"Everything is possible and how you are able to take advantage of your opponents. As far as I am concerned, the team is not under pressure and Nigeria will make it to the quarterfinals."
Nigeria will face host Cameroon on Thursday by 8pm.
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