By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria’s U-18 boys’ volleyball team made a dream start to their campaign at the 2026 CAVB U-18 African Nations Volleyball Championship, defeating Morocco in straight sets to secure their first victory of the tournament in Alexandria, Egypt.
The Nigerian side delivered a composed and dominant performance to record a 3-0 (32-30, 25-21, 25-18) win over Morocco in their opening Group A fixture, sending an early statement of intent in the race for a place in the knockout stage.
The opening set proved to be a thrilling contest as both teams traded points in a fiercely competitive battle. Nigeria showed remarkable composure under pressure, saving crucial points before edging the Moroccans 32-30 to gain the early advantage.
With confidence soaring after the tense first-set victory, the Nigerians returned for the second set with greater control, combining solid defensive play with effective attacks to claim a 25-21 win and move within one set of victory.
The third set saw Nigeria produce its best volleyball of the match. Displaying excellent teamwork, disciplined blocking and powerful attacking play, the boys cruised to a 25-18 victory to wrap up the match without dropping a set.
The convincing result gives Nigeria a valuable early boost in Group A, where they are drawn alongside hosts Egypt, Morocco and Burundi. The victory also strengthens the team’s chances of progressing to the knockout stage as they prepare for tougher tests against the remaining group opponents.
Before the tournament, the draw had placed Nigeria in what many considered a challenging group, with host nation Egypt expected to enjoy strong home support and Morocco regarded as one of the competitive teams in the pool. However, the opening-day performance demonstrated Nigeria’s readiness to compete with the continent’s best.
The championship, which runs from July 21 to 30 in Alexandria, has brought together eight of Africa’s top youth teams. Group B consists of Cameroon, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, with the leading teams advancing to the next phase of the competition.
Nigeria will now shift focus to its remaining group fixtures, knowing that victories over Burundi and hosts Egypt could secure a place in the knockout rounds and move the team a step closer to competing for the continental title.
