Nigeria’s U-19 female Beach Volleyball team gins Gold in Morocco
The dominant duo of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa secured a gold medal for Nigeria in the 2024 African U19 Girls Beach Volleyball Nations Championship.
They defeated the host nation, Morocco, 2-0 (21-8, 21-8) in a decisive final played at Martil Beach on Thursday, June 27th.
Nigeria’s U19 female Beach Volleyball team has been making waves across Africa, and their latest triumph cements their position as the top team on the continent.
The Nigerian team displayed exceptional skill and coordination, dominating the group stage with victories over Congo DR and Morocco Team B, both with 2-0 scores.
Captain Esther Mbah expressed her excitement and gratitude after the championship win, which also secured a spot for the team at the 2024 FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championship in China, scheduled for August 27th to September 1st.
“All glory to God for allowing us to represent the country at the U19 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship. Winning the gold medal for Nigeria after the African Games means a lot to me; we fought hard and got the desired results. Preparations for the World Championship will begin in earnest; the annual Beach Tour in Nigeria will help us fine-tune some of our lapses and our coaches have the technical abilities to help us grow,” said Mbah.
She also thanked the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, led by Engineer Musa Nimrod, for their unwavering support. “I want to use this opportunity to thank the Nigeria Volleyball Federation for the support given to us before and during the Championship. My coaches, senior players, friends, family, and well-wishers have been praying for the success of the team; my prayer is that God will continue to protect us all,” she added.
Reflecting on missing the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Mbah acknowledged the painful defeat in the qualifiers but emphasized the importance of learning from the experience.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s men’s team also performed admirably, winning a bronze medal at the 2024 African U19 Boys Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Cote d’Ivoire. The duo of Victor Eze and Ndifrike George defeated Congo 2-0 (21-11, 21-13) in the third-place match, showcasing Nigeria’s growing prowess in beach volleyball.
