Nigeria captured the 2026 African U18 Beach Volleyball Development Cup on Wednesday, beating hosts Senegal 2-0 in the final with set scores of 21-8 and 21-10.
How the final unfolded
- Nigeria’s pair, Joy Lawrence and Ifechukwu, established a commanding advantage early in the opening set. Senegal struggled to mount a response as the Nigerians finished the set 21-8.
- The hosts returned with greater resolve in the second set, but Nigeria continued to control the contest. A 21-10 victory completed the Nigerians’ championship success.
Coach praises team’s character
Nigeria coach John Iwerima credited his players’ resilience and competitive spirit after the victory. The former international also thanked the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) for helping the team take part in the tournament.
“The players displayed outstanding resilience and determination from start to finish. This success shows that Nigeria possesses one of Africa’s strongest development programmes,” Iwerima said.
He added that the experience and exposure from the competition would play an important role in the young athletes’ ongoing progress.
Federation looks to the future
NVBF President Engineer Musa Nimrod described the result as an encouraging sign for the growth of beach volleyball in Nigeria. He congratulated both the players and coaching staff, while stressing that continued funding and support for youth competitions remain key parts of the federation’s development strategy.
“Beach volleyball has a very promising future in Nigeria. We will keep prioritising underage events, because that is the pathway to developing stronger senior women’s teams,” Nimrod said.
