Nigeria’s Under-18 girls’ beach volleyball team displayed grit and resilience to secure the bronze medal at the 2025 Africa U18 Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup in Banjul, The Gambia.

The young Nigerians bounced back from a narrow semifinal defeat to DR Congo with a commanding 2-0 (21-7, 21-12) victory over Morocco in Saturday’s third-place playoff. Their semifinal clash had ended 2-1 (16-21, 21-16, 15-12) in favor of the Congolese after a hard-fought contest.

Head coach John Iwerima praised his side for their commitment and character, describing the medal as a testament to their effort.

 “I’m proud of the girls. They gave their best on the court and showed great character in every game. We’ll take time to reflect on this tournament, learn from our mistakes, and ensure we don’t underestimate any team in future competitions,” he said.

The competition also highlighted Africa’s growing reputation in beach volleyball. Musa Nimrod, President of the CAVB Beach Volleyball Commission, lauded the quality of play across the tournament.

 “The level of competition has improved, and I must commend all the teams for their effort. The future of beach volleyball in Africa is very bright. With the right development, we can soon compete with top European nations,” Nimrod remarked.

Podium Standings

Gold: DR Congo

Silver: The Gambia (hosts)

Bronze: Nigeria

In the boys’ event, Nigeria exited at the quarterfinal stage after falling to Sierra Leone.

Olympic Pathway Secured

Importantly, Nigeria’s bronze medal finish ensured the girls’ team booked their ticket to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, alongside champions DR Congo and silver medalists The Gambia.