By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria’s newly crowned beach volleyball queens received a hero’s welcome in Abuja on Sunday night after securing the country’s historic first-ever Olympic qualification in the sport.
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport came alive as officials of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), volleyball enthusiasts and supporters gathered to celebrate Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa, who etched their names in Nigerian sporting history with a stunning victory in Egypt.
The duo defeated Morocco 2-0 (21-17, 21-10) in the final of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Alexandria on Saturday, August 22, booking Nigeria’s ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The victory ended years of frustration and near misses for Nigeria, which had come close during the Olympic qualification campaigns for Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
From the airport, the jubilant delegation proceeded to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B Indoor Hall, where the NVBF hosted a special reception and dinner in honour of the players.
NVBF President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, described the breakthrough as the reward for years of perseverance, but credited God for finally delivering Nigeria’s long-awaited Olympic ticket.
«“This is the fourth one. I want to say that it is God, it’s not human being. It is God Almighty that gave us this victory.”»
Nimrod said the federation had waited for about 16 years for an Olympic qualification and recalled that Nigeria had repeatedly reached the decisive stages without securing the sole available ticket.
He revealed that he personally prayed with the players over the phone before their crucial final against Morocco.
The NVBF president, however, warned that qualification is only the beginning, stressing that the team must now embark on an intensive international programme ahead of Los Angeles.
He said the players would need to compete in at least five international World Tour events to improve their ranking and secure favourable seeding at the Olympics.
“We have to do about five World Tours. If they don’t get that ranking very well, they will fall into a very terrible group,” Nimrod said.
Chairman of the NVBF Beach Volleyball Commission, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Stephen Hasso, described the achievement as one of the greatest moments of his sporting career and called for increased government support.
“Today is my greatest day in sports,” Hasso said, urging the National Sports Commission and other stakeholders to provide the financial backing required to sustain the team’s training and international exposure.
For Mbah, the reception was an emotional reminder of the significance of what she and Bawa had achieved.
She said the disappointment of missing out on the Paris 2024 Olympics against Egypt motivated the pair to return stronger and more determined.
“We had to reset and made up our mind to be resilient and go in for this competition because we want to make a name for ourselves and make our country proud,” Mbah said.
With their Olympic ticket secured, the beach volleyball star added confidently: “We’ve qualified for the Olympics. The next stage is LA. See you in Los Angeles.”
President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel, congratulated the players and NVBF, describing the qualification as a major milestone for Nigerian sport.
Gumel, who is also an International Olympic Committee member, pledged the NOC’s collaboration with the National Sports Commission and the Federal Government to ensure the team receives adequate preparation.
“Preparation is very, very important, and it is key,” Gumel said, stressing that qualification must be followed by a comprehensive programme capable of preparing the players to compete successfully on the world stage.
NVBF board member and Chairperson of the Anti-Doping and Medical Commission, Chinedu Odozor-Onikeku, also called for preparations to begin immediately, noting that Olympic success requires sustained planning long before the Games.
For Nigerian volleyball, the historic achievement represents the end of a 16-year wait and the beginning of a new chapter.
With Los Angeles 2028 now firmly on the horizon, the focus shifts to international exposure, ranking points, world-class training and sustained funding as Nigeria’s beach volleyball queens prepare to make their Olympic debut.
