Nigeria is guaranteed to clinch the gold medal in
the girls’ category of the ongoing 2025 CAVB U18 Beach Volleyball
Continental Championship, as both Nigerian teams — Nigeria I and Nigeria II
— advanced to the final of the tournament.
The highly anticipated all-Nigerian showdown
will take place on Thursday, August 7, at Jabi Lake, Abuja,
marking a historic moment in the nation's youth volleyball development.
Nigeria I, represented by Pamela Bawa and Joy
Lauren, delivered a commanding performance in their semifinal clash,
defeating DR Congo in straight sets 2-0 (21-17, 21-14). The duo
showcased excellent coordination and composure throughout the match.
Meanwhile, Nigeria II, led by Ifechukwu Odoh
and Blessing Anebi, pulled off a stunning comeback in the second
semifinal. After narrowly losing the first set to Egypt I, the Nigerian
pair rallied to take the next two sets and seal a 2-1 (20-22, 21-18, 15-11)
victory in a thrilling encounter.
The result means Nigeria will occupy both gold and
silver podium positions, while DR Congo and Egypt I will compete for
bronze in the third-place match.
Players React with Pride and Optimism
Speaking after the match, Pamela Bawa, a bronze
medalist at the 2023 African Games, expressed her joy and optimism ahead
of the final:
“I am excited, happy, and thankful to God for granting
us the privilege to be in the final and represent our country. I believe, by
His grace, we’re going to win the gold medal.”
Bawa also looked ahead to the upcoming FIVB U18
Beach Volleyball World Championship, set to take place in Australia and
Doha, noting the importance of the global tournament:
“The World Championship means a lot to us. We’re going
to give it our best. It won’t be easy, but we’re prepared to fight and come out
in flying colours.”
Boys’ Final: DR Congo to Face Gambia
In the boys’ category, DR Congo booked
their spot in the final with a straight-set victory over Nigeria III
(Triumphant Ezeji and Ibrahim Ijai), winning 21-17, 21-13 in the
semifinal round.
Gambia edged out Nigeria
I (Isaac James and Michael Etido) in a tightly contested match, winning 2-1
(21-16, 14-21, 15-10) to secure the second final ticket.
The boys’ final will now see DR Congo battle
Gambia for the title, while Nigeria I and Nigeria III will contest the bronze
medal match.
A Big Boost for Nigeria’s Youth Sports
This development is being celebrated by sports
enthusiasts across Nigeria as a major boost for grassroots sports and youth
volleyball development. With a guaranteed gold and silver in the girls’
category and strong performances from the boys, Nigeria’s future in beach
volleyball appears increasingly promising.
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