By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria’s U-18 Boys volleyball team have been crowned champions of Africa after defeating hosts Egypt 3-0 to win the 2026 African Nations U-18 Boys Championship in Alexandria.
The young Nigerians produced a dominant display in Wednesday’s final, sweeping aside Egypt in straight sets, 25-22, 25-21, 25-14, to clinch the continental title.
The victory also secured Nigeria’s qualification for the 2027 FIVB Boys’ U-19 World Championship, with the tournament serving as Africa’s qualifying event.
Reacting to the historic achievement, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, described the triumph as a testament to the federation’s sustained investment in grassroots volleyball development over the past nine years.
Nimrod said the title was a clear reward for the federation’s commitment to nurturing young talents, adding that the players’ impressive performances had positioned them for opportunities with clubs across North Africa and beyond.
“This victory is a reflection of the hard work put into our grassroots development programme. It also provides a platform for these young players to secure opportunities with clubs in North Africa and even outside the continent,” he said.
The NVBF president commended members of the federation’s board, coaches and other stakeholders for their unwavering support, noting that their collective efforts played a crucial role in the team’s success.
He assured that the federation would continue to prioritise the development of volleyball across the country, while shifting attention to preparations for the 2026 African Nations Championship for both the senior men’s and women’s national teams.
Nimrod expressed confidence that the U-18 team’s continental success would inspire greater achievements for Nigerian volleyball on both the African and global stages.
