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Beach Volleyball: Mbah, Bawa Storm African Championship Semifinals

Posted : 22 August 2026

Nigeria’s quest for continental glory and qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games has gathered momentum after Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa secured a place in the semifinals of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria, Egypt.

The Nigerian pair produced a spirited performance on Friday to overcome hosts Egypt’s Dina/Yakki 2-1 (21-17, 15-21, 15-11) in a tense quarterfinal encounter.

Mbah and Bawa established early control by taking the opening set 21-17, but the Egyptian duo responded strongly in the second, winning 21-15 to force the decisive third set.

With a semifinal place at stake, the Nigerian representatives held their nerve, raising their intensity to edge the hosts 15-11 and complete a hard-earned victory.

The result sets up a semifinal clash with Mozambique as Nigeria continues its pursuit of the African crown and the continent’s sole qualification ticket to the 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria’s coach, Kayode Ajilore, praised the duo for their resilience and determination, saying their victory demonstrated the progress they have made as elite athletes.

“The girls have proved why they are elite athletes and have improved over the years,” Ajilore said.

He stressed that Nigeria would approach the semifinal with respect for Mozambique while remaining focused on securing another victory.

“We are not going to underrate Mozambique. We’ll give our best and bring honour to the nation,” he added.

Ajilore also acknowledged the contribution of Nigeria Volleyball Federation President, Engineer Musa Nimrod, and members of the federation’s board for their motivation and support during the championship.

He equally highlighted the encouragement provided by the Association of Former Female Athletes in Nigeria (AFFAN) and Chinedu Onikeku (OLY), noting that their presence had helped boost the players’ morale.

Having already negotiated a difficult route to the last four, Mbah and Bawa will now look to carry their momentum into the semifinal against Mozambique, with continental supremacy and a coveted pathway to Los Angeles 2028 firmly in sight.

 

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