Golden Double! Nigeria Sweeps Zone 3 Beach Volleyball Championship
Nigeria Completes Dominant Championship Campaign
TEAM Nigeria produced an outstanding performance to emerge champions in both the men’s and women’s events at the 2026 African Nations Cup Beach Volleyball Zone 3 Championship, underlining the country’s growing dominance in West African beach volleyball.
The tournament, hosted in Badagry, Lagos State, featured six participating nations—Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Benin Republic and Liberia—and concluded with the hosts securing a memorable double before enthusiastic home supporters.
Dramatic Comeback Seals Men’s Gold
Nigeria’s men’s team displayed remarkable resilience in the final against Ghana, recovering from a narrow first-set defeat to capture the championship.
Ghana claimed the opening set 22-20 in a fiercely contested encounter, but Team Nigeria I responded emphatically by winning the second set 21-14 to force a decisive Golden Set.
With the title on the line, the hosts held their nerve to edge Ghana 15-13, completing a dramatic comeback and sealing the Zone 3 crown.
The victory capped an unbeaten campaign for Nigeria despite the stern challenge posed by their West African rivals in the final.
Women’s Team Completes Historic Double
Nigeria’s women’s team also finished the tournament unbeaten, producing consistent performances throughout the championship to secure the gold medal.
Ghana settled for silver after another impressive campaign, while Côte d’Ivoire claimed the bronze medal to complete the podium standings.
The women’s triumph ensured Nigeria completed a clean sweep of both titles on home sand.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Teams
Nigeria II narrowly missed out on the medals after losing in straight sets to Ghana II by scores of 21-16 and 23-21.
Meanwhile, Niger Republic claimed the men’s bronze medal after defeating Benin Republic 15-7 in the Golden Set of the third-place playoff.
Following the tournament, Mahaman Hadi, representing Niger Republic’s Ministry of Sports, praised the quality of organisation and facilities provided by the hosts.
He also commended his team’s performance despite falling short of the final.
Growing Regional Force
Nigeria’s success at the Zone 3 Championship reflects the country’s steady progress in beach volleyball and highlights the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to strengthen the sport.
Winning both the men’s and women’s competitions without losing a match reinforces Nigeria’s status as one of the region’s emerging beach volleyball powers and provides further encouragement ahead of future continental competitions.
