Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games have been ended by Morocco after the North Africans secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Nigerian men’s team in the quarter-finals of the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in Tunisia.

The West Africans produced a determined performance on Monday, September 21, but Morocco held their nerve in the deciding set to advance to the semi-finals.

Nigeria started brightly and won the opening set 25-20, putting the Moroccans under immediate pressure.

Morocco responded strongly in the second set, winning 25-15 before taking the third 25-20 to move within one set of victory.

Facing elimination, Nigeria fought back in the fourth set and edged a closely contested battle 26-24 to force a decisive fifth set.

However, Morocco maintained their composure when it mattered most, winning the deciding set 15-12 to complete the comeback and secure their place in the last four.

The result brought Nigeria’s Olympic qualification hopes to an end, with the team now left to compete for a strong finish in the classification phase of the continental championship.

Nigeria will face Rwanda in the 5th-9th classification match on Wednesday, September 23.

Nigeria will therefore seek to respond positively against Rwanda as the team continues its campaign in Tunisia and looks to finish the continental championship on a strong note.