Thrills as Nigerian women win 2026 ABVD Cup

Nigeria Volleyball Federation President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, says the future of beach volleyball in the country is bright after the national women’s team won the 2026 African U18 Beach Volleyball Development Cup in Senegal, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nimrod described the triumph as a positive sign for the future of the sport, while stressing the importance of sustained investment in youth competitions to build stronger senior teams.

“The future of beach volleyball in Nigeria is very bright. We will continue to focus on underage competitions because that is how we can build stronger senior women’s teams for the future,” he said.

Nigeria’s women’s team defeated hosts Senegal A 2-0 (21-8, 21-10) to claim the title in Senegal on Thursday.

The Nigerian duo of Joy Lawrence and Ifechukwu Odoh dominated from the start, racing to a convincing 21-8 victory in the opening set.

Senegal A returned with renewed determination in the second set, but Lawrence and Odoh maintained their composure to complete the victory with a 21-10 win.

The triumph capped an impressive campaign for the Nigerian pair and further highlighted the country’s growing prospects in beach volleyball.

Nigeria coach John Iwerima praised the players for their resilience and fighting spirit throughout the competition.

“The players showed great resilience and determination throughout the competition. This victory is a clear indication that Nigeria has one of the best developmental programmes in Africa,” Iwerima said.

The former international also commended the NVBF for its support in ensuring the team participated in the competition.

Iwerima added that the exposure gained from the tournament would be valuable to the young players as they continue their development.

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