In a display of sheer supremacy, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) women’s volleyball team has been crowned the 2025 Comptroller-General of Customs Volleyball Premier League champions, clinching the title with three matches still left to play. This decisive victory, sealed with a commanding 3-0 win (25-13, 25-14, 25-21) over Anambra Queens in Abuja, marks a significant evolution for a squad that won the same title on the final day just a season prior.
For Samuel Onikeku, the Head of Sports for the Nigeria Customs Service, this early triumph is the direct result of a bold and deliberate strategic overhaul. “We opened camp with a clear mission to transform our team,” Onikeku explained in an exclusive interview. “The infusion of younger talents into our core was pivotal. This isn’t just a win; it’s a validation of our long-term development plan.”
This strategic shift represents more than just a roster change. It’s a fundamental move towards building a sustainable pipeline of talent, ensuring the team isn’t reliant on a single generation of players. The statistics speak to its immediate success: an unbeaten run through the first phase of the league, winning all 10 matches, a feat that provided the unassailable platform for their early coronation.
“I’m immensely proud of the entire ecosystem—the coordinators, coaches, team managers, and, most importantly, the players,” Onikeku stated, reflecting on a journey that included a recent victorious outing in Ghana. “But our vision extends far beyond domestic dominance.”
Indeed, the league trophy is now seen as a stepping stone. The real ambition, as articulated by Onikeku, is to challenge the established hierarchy of African volleyball. “We don’t want to be just national or regional champions. We believe Nigeria should be able to stand and face the North African powerhouses,” he declared, referencing the traditional strongholds of clubs from Egypt and Tunisia that have long dominated the continent’s club championships.
This ambition frames the 2025 league victory as Phase One of a much larger project. The team is now in a continuous process of fortification, with 2026 highlighted as a critical year where preparations for major continental competitions will intensify. The goal is to build a squad with the technical prowess, physicality, and tactical depth to compete at the highest level in Africa.
The implications of this success are multifaceted. For Nigerian volleyball, a strong, professionally run club team like Customs raises the competitive bar for the entire domestic league. It provides a model for other institutions on how to build a program through youth investment and clear strategic planning. For the players, it offers a pathway to high-level continental exposure, which is invaluable for their growth and for the prospects of the national team.
With the domestic league title secured, the Nigeria Customs Service volleyball team has shifted its gaze. Their dominant 2025 season is now the foundation upon which they aim to construct a legacy that resonates across Africa. The message is clear: this victory is not a finale, but a compelling prologue for a team setting its sights on continental glory.
Reported by Aderonke Ojo for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Joseph Edeh.
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