Nigeria’s Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence have been eliminated from the beach volleyball competition at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, following a straight-set defeat to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
The Nigerian duo fell 2-0 to the Dutch pairing of Jara Both and Matilda de Groot on Day 4 of the competition, bringing their impressive campaign to an end.
Despite putting up a spirited fight, Bawa and Lawrence were unable to overcome their opponents, losing the first set 14-21 before going down 16-21 in the second.
Their quarter-final appearance marked a significant achievement, as Nigeria were among only two African countries to reach the last eight of the competition.
Although their pursuit of a semi-final place ended in disappointment, the experience represents an important milestone for the young Nigerian athletes, who gained valuable international exposure against some of the best emerging talents in the sport.
Their performance in Dakar offers encouragement for the future of Nigerian beach volleyball, with the duo expected to draw valuable lessons from their participation at the Youth Olympic Games.
