Team Nigeria’s men’s and women’s hockey teams returned home on Sunday after representing the country at the African Hockey Cup of Nations in Ismailia, Egypt.

The Nigerian teams gave spirited performances against Africa’s top sides, including South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and hosts Egypt.

The men’s team secured a bronze medal, their best finish in recent years, after defeating Kenya 3–1 in the third-place playoff.

Nigeria’s James Samaila emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, netting eight goals to cap an impressive campaign for the men’s side.

The women’s team, who had won bronze in previous editions, also gave a strong showing, narrowly missing out on a podium finish this time.

President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Simon Nkom, commended both teams for their dedication, teamwork, and resilience upon arrival from Egypt.

“Our players showed the true Nigerian spirit. We’ll keep building on this foundation to achieve greater results,” he said.

Mr Nkom described the bronze medal as a major boost for the sport’s growth and praised the players for their discipline and passion.

“This achievement is a significant step forward for Nigerian hockey,” he added.

The federation thanked the sports commission, sponsors, and fans for their support, pledging continued investment in grassroots development and international exposure for players.

The tournament, held from October 11 to October 18, also served as Africa’s qualifier for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.

(NAN)