CAVB Youth Cup: Nigeria, DR Congo set early pace in Saly

Posted : 12 August 2026

Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo have emerged among the early pacesetters at the 2026 CAVB Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup in Saly, Senegal, after recording impressive victories on the opening day.

Nigeria made the strongest statement in the women’s U-18 category, securing two straight-set victories without dropping a set.

The Nigerian pair opened their campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over The Gambia, taking the first set 21-9 before completing the victory 21-13.

They followed the impressive start with an even more dominant performance against Cape Verde, winning 21-7, 21-3 to underline their early title credentials.

The results put Nigeria in a strong position as the competition enters its next phase, with the team expected to face tougher challenges from other contenders.

In the men’s U-18 category, DR Congo also announced its presence with two commanding victories.

The Congolese team began with a 2-0 win over Morocco, taking the sets 21-14 and 21-19, before producing another strong performance to defeat Ghana 21-19, 21-15.

Hosts Senegal also enjoyed a fruitful opening day, recording a series of victories across the men's and women's events.

Senegal B overcame Egypt 2-1 in a closely contested encounter, winning 22-20, 21-17, 15-10, before Senegal secured another 2-1 victory over Mozambique.

Egypt subsequently responded with a comeback win over Senegal, recovering from a 21-14 first-set loss to win the next two sets 21-14, 15-9.

Tunisia also began its campaign positively, defeating Cape Verde 2-0 (21-14, 21-10).

In the men's competition, Senegal defeated Ghana 2-0 (21-18, 21-13), with Ghana conceding on medical grounds, before securing another straight-set victory over Namibia, 21-13, 21-14.

Senegal A added a notable 2-0 victory over South Africa, winning 21-15, 22-20, while Sierra Leone also recorded a convincing 2-0 win against South Africa, 21-14, 21-11.

The opening day's results highlighted the increasing depth of youth beach volleyball on the continent, with several teams showing impressive technical ability, athleticism and competitive spirit.

While Nigeria and DR Congo have established themselves as early teams to beat, hosts Senegal have also demonstrated their strength across the competition, buoyed by the support of the home crowd in Saly.

With the tournament entering its second day, attention will now shift to whether the early frontrunners can maintain their momentum as the race for places in the decisive stages gathers pace.

CAVB Youth Cup: Nigeria, DR Congo set early pace in Saly

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