By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria have secured a place in the wfomen’s semifinal of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, after a hard-fought victory over hosts Egypt.
The Nigerian pair of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa defeated Egypt’s Dina/Yakki 2-1 (21-17, 15-21, 15-11) in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter on Friday.
Mbah and Bawa made a strong start, taking the opening set 21-17, but the Egyptian duo responded emphatically in the second set, winning 21-15 to force a decider.
The Zone 3 champions, however, held their nerve when it mattered most, edging Egypt 15-11 in the third set to book their place in the last four.
Nigeria Beach Volleyball coach Kayode Ajilore praised the pair for their resilience and quality against the hosts, saying the victory underlined their status as elite athletes.
Ajilore said the team would approach the semifinal against Mozambique with respect but remain determined to secure victory and bring honour to Nigeria.
“We are not going to underrate Mozambique. We’ll give our best and bring honour to the nation,” he said.
The coach also expressed appreciation to Nigeria Volleyball Federation President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, and the federation’s board for their motivation and support throughout the championship.
He further acknowledged the contribution of the Association of Former Female Athletes in Nigeria (AFFAN), particularly Chinedu Onikeku (OLY), whose presence and encouragement have boosted the players’ morale.
Nigeria will face Mozambique in the semifinal on Saturday, August 22, as Mbah and Bawa continue their pursuit of the continental title and the sole African ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
