Nigeria’s women’s team beat hosts Senegal A 2-0 (21-8, 21-10) to win the 2026 African U18 Beach Volleyball Development Cup in Senegal on Thursday, August 13.
The Nigerian pair of Joy Lawrence and Ifechukwu Odoh got the first set off to a flying start with a fast dominance that Senegal A found hard to respond to.
Lawrence and Ifechukwu kept their cool to win the opening set 21-8.
The hosts came back into the second set with renewed determination to stir their fans but Nigeria remained in control.
The Nigerian duo continued their good run of form to seal the championship with a 21-10 victory.
Nigeria coach John Iwerima lauded the players for their resilience and battling spirit following the victory.
The former international also praised the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) for its support in making sure the team competed in the competition.
“The players showed great resilience and determination throughout the tournament,” he remarked. This result is a clear evidence that Nigeria has the best development programs in Africa.
“The tournament will give the young players valuable exposure as they continue their development,” Iwerima remarked.
Also addressing, NVBF President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, said the success was a good omen for the future of beach volleyball in Nigeria.
“The players and coaches deserve congratulations for their excellent performance and continued investment in youth competitions remains central to Nigeria’s plans for the development of the sport,” Nimrod said.
“The future of beach volleyball in Nigeria is very bright,” he remarked. “We will continue to concentrate on underage competitions because that is the way we can produce stronger senior women’s teams for the future.
About the Author
