Nigeria’s Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa have advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship after recording a commanding straight-set victory over hosts Egypt in Alexandria on Friday.
The Nigerian pair defeated Egypt 2-0 (21-17, 21-16) in the Round of 16 to keep their hopes of winning a continental title and securing Olympic qualification alive.
Mbah and Bawa set the tone from the opening exchanges, refusing to allow the home team to settle into the contest.
Their disciplined play and effective attacking combinations saw Nigeria establish control before closing out the first set 21-17.
The 2024 African Games bronze medallists maintained their intensity in the second set, dealing effectively with Egypt’s attempts to fight back.
Nigeria stayed composed at crucial moments to take the set 21-16 and complete a convincing victory.
The win also represents a strong response to Nigeria’s defeat by Morocco in their final group-stage fixture.
Nigeria Volleyball Federation board member Chinedu Onikeku (OLY) hailed the performance, describing the victory as a statement of the team’s growing stature in African beach volleyball.
“Nigerians are excited with the performance of the girls against the host nation, Egypt, in the Round of 16,” Onikeku said.
“The girls have put a smile on the faces of Nigerians back home. Esther and Pamela gave a good account of themselves and proved that they are a force to reckon with in beach volleyball.
“They bounced back from their loss against Morocco in their third group-stage match, and this victory is a huge statement from the team.”
Nigeria will now face Mozambique in the quarterfinals as the competition moves into the decisive stages on Saturday, August 21, 2026.
The 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship also doubles as an Olympic qualification tournament, raising the stakes for Mbah and Bawa as they continue their campaign in Alexandria.
