By Amaechi Agbo
Nigeria’s women’s beach volleyball team made a winning start at the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, defeating Benin Republic 2-0.
The Nigerian duo of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa dominated their Beninese opponents, winning 21-14, 21-10 to strengthen their bid for a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Mbah and Bawa will be hoping to maintain their impressive form as they continue their campaign at the continental championship, where Olympic qualification is one of their major targets.
However, it was a different outcome for Nigeria in the men’s category, as Algeria secured a 2-0 victory over the Nigerian pair.
Algeria won both sets by an identical 21-14 scoreline to hand Nigeria a setback in the ongoing championship.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the competition, President of the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB), Bouchra Hajij, exchanged pleasantries with Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) board member, Chinedu Onikeku, OLY.
Onikeku, who represents the Association of Former Female Athletes in Nigeria (AFFAN) on the NVBF board, is also a member of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The championship in Alexandria is bringing together some of Africa’s leading beach volleyball players, with teams battling for continental honours and qualification opportunities ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
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