The Gambia made a powerful impression at the inaugural CAVB U18 Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup, held from 4 to 6 September at Kasumai Beach in Banjul. Backed by Olympic Solidarity and the FIVB, the event aimed to enhance youth opportunities in beach volleyball across Africa, doubling as a development platform for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
Girls' Division Highlights
In the girls’ competition, Gambian players Hoja Njie and Mariama Sambou impressed spectators by navigating the pool stage undefeated. Though they faced a tough loss in the final, earning silver after a straight-sets defeat by DR Congo’s Ekete Moseka and Matatanu Mayala, their performance marked a significant achievement.
- Semifinal Victory: Defeated Morocco to reach the final
- Final Result: Lost to DR Congo, finishing with a silver medal
- Bronze Medal: Nigeria’s Pamela Miyoum Bawa and Odoh Ifechukwu Faustina
Boys' Division Success
In the boys’ bracket, The Gambia celebrated a major triumph as Bakary Ensa Kanyi and Abdallah Bah went on an undefeated streak, winning five consecutive matches to secure the gold medal. Their final match was a commanding straight-sets victory over Sierra Leone’s Sulaiman Bangura and Alie Kainesie.
- Gold Medal: The Gambia
- Silver Medal: Sierra Leone
- Bronze Medal: Ghana defeated Morocco
Wider Impact and Development
The tournament hosted a total of 18 teams from 12 countries, equally split across genders. This event highlights the accelerating growth of beach volleyball across African nations. Notably, the FIVB's Volleyball Empowerment programme facilitated Gambia's preparation with a $42,000 funding boost dedicated to youth development in the sport.
Referee Training Course
Coinciding with the tournament, Banjul also hosted the CAVB International Referee Candidates Course (IRCC), supported by the FIVB. This initiative gathered 22 participants from 20 different national federations, underscoring a strategic commitment to improving refereeing standards alongside athlete preparation.
Together, the competition and IRCC represent a united effort by the FIVB and African volleyball stakeholders to push beach volleyball forward on the continent with both performance and professionalism in view.
For more details, visit the official article on FIVB.com.
