Tomiwa Jagunna
Nigeria has emerged champions of the 2024 African U19 Girls Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Morocco.
The pair of Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa (Nigeria) defeated Morocco 2-0 (21-8, 21-8) in the women’s final played at the Martil Beach in Tanger, Morocco on Thursday.
In the group stages, Nigeria beat Congo DR 2-0 (21-13, 21-6) and Morocco Team B 2-0 (21-8, 21-11) to top the Pool B before progressing to the semifinals where Nigeria whitewashed Gambia 2-0 (21-3, 21-9).
Captain of Nigeria’s U19 beach volleyball team, Esther Mbah expressed delight in winning the U19 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship and qualifying for the 2024 FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championship in China from 27th August to 1st September.
Mbah applauded the Nigeria Volleyball Federation under the leadership of Engineer Musa Nimrod for ensuring the team attended the U19 African Nations Championship as well as putting the map of Nigeria on the continent.
The African Games bronze medallist said, “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.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the Nigeria Volleyball Federation led by Engineer Musa Nimrod 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”.
Reacting to missing the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Esther Mbah said, “It was a painful defeat in the final of the qualifiers. We led in the first set of the game but the Egyptians were more experienced, levelled up, and got the sole ticket to the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s men’s team won a bronze medal at the just concluded 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 men’s third-place match.
