By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria’s women’s team has emerged champions of the 2026 African U18 Beach Volleyball Development Cup after defeating hosts Senegal A 2-0 in the final on Thursday.
The Nigerian duo of Joy Lawrence and Ifechukwu Odoh dominated from the outset, cruising to a 21-8 victory in the opening set before maintaining their composure to seal the title with a 21-10 win in the second set.
Coach John Iwerima praised the players for their resilience and fighting spirit, describing the triumph as evidence of Nigeria’s strong developmental programme. He also commended the Nigeria Volleyball Federation for its support.
NVBF President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, congratulated the players and coaches, saying the victory signals a bright future for beach volleyball in Nigeria. He reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to investing in youth competitions to build stronger senior teams.
