Nigeria Strikes Gold as Abuja Hosts 2025 CAVB U18 Beach Volleyball Continental Showdown

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The curtains have fallen on a thrilling week of competition at the 2025 CAVB U18 Beach Volleyball Continental Championship, held from August 1 to 7 at Jabi Lake, Abuja, with Nigeria’s girls and The Gambia’s boys emerging as continental champions in an event that blended youthful talent, international-standard organisation, and an electric atmosphere.

In the girls’ category, Nigeria I stormed to victory, defeating fellow compatriots Nigeria II in straight sets, 21-17, 21-17, in an all-Nigerian final that showcased the depth of the nation’s young talent. In the boys’ category, The Gambia sealed a commanding 2-0 win over DR Congo, triumphing 21-19, 21-13 to claim the continental crown.

The battle for bronze saw Nigeria I outplay Nigeria III in the boys’ third-place match, winning 23-21, 21-17, while DR Congo’s girls fought back from a set down to defeat Egypt I 2-1 (20-22, 21-16, 15-7) and secure third place in their division.

Speaking after the finals, President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Musa Nimrod, hailed the competition’s success and Nigeria’s qualification for upcoming global events.

“It has been one week of non-stop action here at Jabi Lake and we are proud to have witnessed champions emerge. Our under-18 teams will now represent Africa at the World Championship in Doha, while our senior team will head to the World Championship in Australia. We also have the Zone 3 Senior Championship in Abidjan coming up, so there will be no rest. These victories show that our players are truly occupied and on the right track,” Nimrod said.

Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, commended the developmental value of the event.

“This tournament is about building the future. Hosting as many competitions as possible creates opportunities for our athletes, and now these young players will carry Nigeria’s flag at international championships in Qatar and beyond. We are delighted by their performance—once again, the women have delivered gold for Nigeria, while the men put up a commendable fight,” Dikko said, congratulating Nimrod for bringing together a strong continental field.

Nigeria’s gold-winning player in the girls’ category, Pamela Bawa, was overwhelmed with joy.

“I can’t express how happy and grateful I am to God for this opportunity to represent my country and win. For the future, I’m aiming for the moon so that even if I fall, I’ll land among the stars. I believe by God’s grace I will keep bringing more trophies home,” she said with a smile.

The championship drew praise from the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) and visiting international officials for its high organisational standards despite financial challenges. According to Nimrod, preparations for the world stage will begin immediately, with the girls heading straight into camp ahead of the Olympic Solidarity tournament in The Gambia in two weeks—a key part of Nigeria’s build-up to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.

The 2025 CAVB U18 Beach Volleyball Continental Championship not only delivered thrilling matches but also reaffirmed Nigeria’s place as a force in African volleyball, while setting the stage for bigger international challenges ahead.