Prince Harry Plays Volleyball Match Against Wounded Nigerian Soldiers

Blame the jet lag. Prince Harry apparently let the ball drop during his whirlwind trip to Nigeria this weekend. That’s meant literally, as the Duke of Sussex participated in a volleyball match with a group of wounded soldiers, but lost by a notable four points.

As reported last month, Harry and wife Meghan Markle are currently on their first official international tour since stepping down from their royal duties in 2020. Though the couple are now living as quasi-private citizens with Netflix deals and jam lines, they have kept up their commitment to the Invictus Games, which Prince Harry founded while in his royal role, following his deployment in Afghanistan.

That includes regular attendance at the organization’s international competition for wounded and sick military personnel and veterans, as well as appearances at its ancillary and related events. The Games’ tenth anniversary even brought Harry back to the U.K. earlier this month, despite the ongoing rift he reportedly has with his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, attend an exhibition sitting volleyball match on May 11, 2024.

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Invictus has also spurred a 72-hour tour of Games-related events in Nigeria, a trip first requested by the country’s officials.

“The visit is to consolidate Nigeria’s stronghold at the game and the possibility of hosting the event in later years,” Nigeria’s acting director of defense information, Tukur Gusau, said via statement. It’s a move that might be met with favor by Invictus’s patron, who said last year, “I’m not saying we play favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered that she’s of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit competitive” when it comes to which teams his family backs at the annual Games.

Prince Harry (2nd L), Duke of Sussex, takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered on May 11, 2024.

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Those ties to Nigeria didn’t help Harry when he hit the volleyball court, though. According to the BBC, on Saturday the couple visited Nigeria Unconquered, an Abuja-based charity for sick and wounded service members that partners with the Invictus Foundation to provide specialized sports rehab facilities and adaptive sports programs.

Harry and Meghan took in a number of those programs, including a seated volleyball match at an outdoor court. Initially, the couple were mere spectators, but then Harry was invited to join in. The team he joined was quickly redubbed “Team Harry,” which faced off against a group of the country’s Chief of Defense staff members, known as “Team CDS.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered on May 11, 2024.

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered on May 11, 2024.

Anadolu/Getty Images

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered on May 11, 2024.

Anadolu/Getty Images

The Daily Mail reports that Harry took the court to cheers and chants, and participated in a team huddle and a “motivational high five.” But his lack of experience was apparently too great to overcome on the court, as his team lost 21-25.

The competition appeared friendly, with the match ending in “smiles and hugs all round,” the Mail reports. Following the game, Harry joined “in the team’s war cry before speaking with families and friends of the athletes,” the BBC notes. Harry and Meghan then attended a reception at which Harry spoke about some of the things the couple saw during the first day of the trip, including a visit to a military rehabilitation center in Kaduna at which he met 50 wounded service personnel.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, takes part in an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered on May 11, 2024.

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“There were two of the 50 that were a little different,” Harry said.

“They had smiles on faces. One of them was doing push-ups. I was intrigued … They knew their life wasn’t defined from the injuries of their past. That is what Invictus is all about.”

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