Nigeria Sets Up Mozambique Semifinal Clash At African Beach

Nigeria’s women’s beach volleyball team has secured a place in the semifinal of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, after a hard-fought victory over the host nation.

The Nigerian pair of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa defeated Egypt’s Dina/Yakki 2-1 (21-17, 15-21, 15-11) in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter on Friday.

Mbah and Bawa made a confident start, taking the opening set 21-17 before the Egyptian duo responded strongly to claim the second set 21-15 and force a decider.

The Zone 3 champions kept their composure when it mattered most, edging Egypt 15-11 in the third set to seal their place among the tournament’s final four.

Nigeria will now face Mozambique in the semifinal on Saturday, August 22, with a place in the final and a major step towards continental glory at stake.

Beach volleyball coach Kayode Ajilore in a statement released on Saturday praised the Nigerian duo for their resilience and determination, saying their victory demonstrated the quality and growth of the team.

“The girls have proved why they are elite athletes and have improved over the years,” Ajilore said.

He noted that the earlier victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 had provided the team with the confidence needed for their subsequent matches.

“We are not going to underrate Mozambique. We’ll give our best and bring honour to the nation,” he added.

Ajilore also expressed appreciation to the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, and other members of the federation’s board for their continued motivation and support throughout the championship.

He further acknowledged the contribution of the Association of Former Female Athletes in Nigeria (AFFAN) and Chinedu Onikeku (OLY), saying their presence and encouragement had boosted the players’ morale.

With Mozambique standing between Nigeria and a place in the final, Mbah and Bawa will be aiming to maintain their impressive run as they pursue the African title and the sole qualification ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.