Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has pledged strong backing for beach volleyball players Pamela Bawa and Esther Mbah as they begin preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Quick facts
- Bawa and Mbah qualified at the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Alexandria, Egypt.
- Nigeria defeated Egypt in the semi-final and Morocco in the final.
- The victory delivered Nigeria’s first Olympic qualification in beach volleyball.
- The players were hosted by Adeniyi in Abuja.
Adeniyi made the commitment while receiving the pair in Abuja after their landmark campaign at the continental championship.
Bawa and Mbah claimed the gold medal in Alexandria, overcoming the host nation Egypt in the last four before beating Morocco in the final. Their triumph secured Nigeria’s first Olympic place in beach volleyball.
The Customs chief congratulated them on the breakthrough and urged them to use their African success as a platform for challenging the leading teams worldwide.
“You have proved that this can be done,” Adeniyi said. He added that improved coordination, thorough planning and a carefully designed strategy could enable Nigeria to end the established dominance within the next two years.
He said the Olympic campaign should start immediately, with overseas training camps and fixtures against high-quality opponents included in the preparation programme.
Adeniyi called on the players to carry their resolve, readiness and ambition for success from the African championship to Los Angeles. He assured them that the necessary backing would be provided to help them secure a podium finish at the 2028 Games.
“Whatever is required to make that happen, we will provide,” he added.
He also highlighted the progress of the Customs VIPERS volleyball team, saying its development scheme had created a route for gifted athletes to advance to the international stage.
Adeniyi encouraged Bawa and Mbah to compete in Los Angeles with the self-belief expected of continental champions.
“You will arrive as African champions, and you must represent the very best Africa has in that event,” he said.
