Nigeria has secured a historic qualification for the beach volleyball event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games after the country’s women’s team defeated Morocco 2-0 in the final of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, on Saturday, August 22.
The Nigerian duo of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa delivered a commanding performance to defeat their Moroccan opponents 21-18, 21-10 and clinch the gold medal.
The victory marks the first time Nigeria will feature in the Olympic beach volleyball event, creating a new chapter in the country’s sporting history.
The historic feat also ended a 16-year wait for the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), which has continued to invest in the development and promotion of volleyball and beach volleyball in the country.
Mbah and Bawa’s qualification represents a major breakthrough for Nigerian beach volleyball, with the duo earning their place at the world’s biggest sporting event through their outstanding performance at the continental championship.
The achievement has attracted commendations from key stakeholders in Nigerian sports, who described the qualification as a product of determination, sustained investment, institutional support and commitment to athlete development.
President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, described the qualification as a landmark achievement, saying Mbah and Bawa had written their names in the history of Nigerian sports through their determination, commitment and hard work.
The breakthrough also underscores the growing potential of beach volleyball in Nigeria and raises expectations for a strong showing by the team when the country makes its historic Olympic debut in the event at Los Angeles 2028.
The achievement further provides a significant boost to the development of volleyball in Nigeria and offers renewed motivation for other sports federations seeking to secure Olympic qualification.
