Nigeria’s women’s team have booked their place in the semifinals of the 2026 African U-18 Beach Volleyball Development Cup in Saly, Senegal, after maintaining their unbeaten run in the competition.
The young Nigerians secured their semifinal ticket on Wednesday, August 12, with a convincing 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) victory over Mozambique.
The result capped an impressive group-stage campaign for the Nigerian side, who have continued to show tactical maturity and growing confidence against their continental counterparts.
Nigeria women’s coach, John Iwerima, praised his players for their disciplined approach and quality of play, saying their performance reflected the progress they have made during the tournament.
“The girls have demonstrated a high level of tactical play. This is just the beginning for them, and I believe they will continue to improve as the tournament progresses,” Iwerima said.
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The former international explained that beyond the immediate objective of competing for the title, Nigeria’s participation is primarily aimed at giving the young players valuable exposure to international competition.
“Our main goal is to expose these players and prepare them for the major tasks ahead. This tournament is an important platform for their development and experience,” he added.
Iwerima also acknowledged the importance of winning the competition, noting that a title triumph would further enhance the profile of both the players and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation.
“Winning the tournament will be an addition to the profile of not only the players but also the Federation,” he said.
With a semifinal place secured, Nigeria will now turn their attention to the knockout stage as they continue their quest for continental glory and further development of the next generation of Nigerian beach volleyball players.
