By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national volleyball teams have officially secured their places at the 2026 CAVB African Nations Volleyball Championships, marking the country’s first major step on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The confirmation came after the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) released the final list of qualified nations following the conclusion of the continental zonal qualification tournaments.
The Nigerian women will compete in the 16-team championship in Nairobi, Kenya, where Africa’s top sides will battle not only for the continental title but also for qualification to the LA28 Olympic Games and the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Cup.
Joining Nigeria in the women’s competition are hosts Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, Algeria, Morocco, Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Senegal, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Zambia.
Nigeria’s men’s team earned qualification as Zone 3 champions and will feature at the 2026 CAVB Men’s African Nations Volleyball Championship in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, scheduled for September 7 to 21.
The men’s championship will bring together hosts DR Congo, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Cameroon, Rwanda, Tunisia, Chad, Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Beyond continental supremacy, both tournaments carry significant international rewards. The champions in the men’s and women’s events will claim Africa’s automatic qualification spots for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while the three highest-ranked teams not already qualified will secure places at the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup.
CAVB congratulated all qualified national federations for their performances during the qualification campaign and commended the zonal associations for successfully staging the qualifying tournaments.
The continental body also urged participating federations to complete all administrative requirements, including confirmation of participation and submission of relevant documentation before the stipulated deadlines.
With qualification now confirmed, Nigeria’s men’s and women’s teams will turn their attention to preparations for Kinshasa and Nairobi, where they will aim to challenge Africa’s elite and keep alive their dream of reaching the Olympic Games and the World Cup.
