By Aderonke Ojo
Nigeria will take on Mozambique in the women’s semifinal of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, on Saturday, August 22.
The duo of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa defeated Egypt’s Dina/Yakki 2-1 (21-17, 15-21, 15-11) in a thrilling quarterfinal match on Friday, August 21.
Nigeria started the first set strongly, securing a 21-17 victory before the Egyptians bounced back in the second set, winning 21-15 to level the match.
The Zone 3 champions, however, regained their composure in the decisive third set, edging the North Africans 15-11 to book their place in the semifinals.
Coach of Nigeria’s Beach Volleyball team, Kayode Ajilore hailed the performance of Mbah and Bawa, describing their victory over Egypt as an impressive display.
Ajilore explained that the Nigerian pair overcame the odds to defeat the hosts in an epic encounter.
He said: “The girls have proved why they are elite athletes and have improved over the years.
“The win against Egypt in the Round of 16 set the ball rolling for the players against Morocco.
“We are not going to underrate Mozambique. We’ll give our best and bring honour to the nation.”
Ajilore also praised the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, and other board members for their motivation and support throughout the championship.
The former international further noted that the presence and support of the Association of Former Female Athletes in Nigeria (AFFAN), Chinedu Onikeku (OLY) had also boosted the morale of the players.
Nigeria will now face Mozambique in the semifinal as they continue their quest for the continental title and the sole ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
