By OLANREWAJU AKOJEDE

Team Nigeria staged a remarkable comeback on Monday to defeat Ghana 2-1 and win the men’s gold medal at the 2026 African Nations Cup Beach Volleyball Zone 3 Championship.

The tournament, held in Badagry, Lagos State, also saw Nigeria’s women’s team claim the gold medal after an unbeaten campaign throughout the competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria recovered after Ghana captured the opening set 22-20 in a fiercely contested men’s final.

Roared on by enthusiastic home supporters, Team Nigeria I responded brilliantly, dominating the second set 21-14 to force a decisive Golden Set.

Nigeria maintained its composure in the winner-takes-all Golden Set, edging Ghana 15-13 to secure the championship and complete a dramatic turnaround.

The victory crowned an outstanding campaign for the hosts, who remained unbeaten throughout the six-nation championship despite their final scare against Ghana.

Team Nigeria II, however, endured disappointment after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Ghana II in another men’s contest.

Ghana II secured the victory with scores of 21-16 and 23-21, denying Nigeria’s second team a place among the medal winners.

Niger Republic secured the bronze medal after defeating Benin Republic 15-7 in the Golden Set of the third-place play-off.

In the women’s competition, Team Nigeria also emerged champions to complete a memorable double for the host nation.

Ghana finished with the silver medal in the women’s event, while Côte d’Ivoire claimed the bronze medal.

Speaking after the competition, Mahaman Hadi, representing Niger Republic’s Ministry of Sports, praised the organisation of the championship.

“The organisers have chosen the best place for us to have this competition, and it is commendable.

“We would have loved to have the same scenery and facilities in my country, but we do not have a beach,” he said.

Hadi expressed satisfaction with his country’s performance in spite of narrowly missing a place in the men’s final.

“Our team performed up to the required standard, and I am happy with the way things turned out for my team,” he said.

The championship featured six participating nations: Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Benin and Liberia.

Nigeria’s unbeaten performances in both the men’s and women’s competitions underlined the country’s growing strength in beach volleyball within the West African region. (NAN)

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