Nigeria makes it to quarter-finals of Africa Volleyball Championship

Nigeria has made it to the quarter-finals of the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in Tunisia. They achieved this after a tough match against Algeria, winning 3-2 in their last group game on Thursday.

The Zone 3 champions showed grit, coming back after losing the first and third sets. The final scores were 23-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, and 15-12 in a five-set thriller.

This win earned Nigeria a spot in the quarter-finals and highlighted their strong spirit in the tournament. Coach Ryan Masajedi praised the players for bouncing back after falling behind twice during the match.

“I am impressed with the way the players picked up after losing the first set. The set was in our hands but the Algerians were lucky it went in their favour,” the Japanese coach said.

“The players have once again shown that they can perform under any circumstances. They picked up after the first set and we ended up winning the match.”

Nigeria began the match confidently but Algeria took the first set 25-23. The Nigerian team responded well, winning the second set 25-19. However, Algeria regained control, winning the third set 25-21.

The Zone 3 champions did not give up. They took the fourth set 25-20, which pushed the match to a deciding tie-break. Nigeria clinched the tie-break 15-12, completing their comeback.

Masajedi emphasized the significance of this victory after Nigeria’s opening win against Chad. He said the players proved their first win was not a one-time event.

“We started the tournament playing Chad, and the victory against Algeria has placed us among the favourites at the Nations Championship,” he said.

Nigeria opened their championship campaign on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Chad, scoring 25-17, 25-17, and 25-16.

The team is in Tunisia aiming to secure the continent’s only spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and to qualify for the 2027 FIVB World Championship.

With their place in the quarter-finals confirmed, Masajedi urged the players to stay focused and not let the victory distract them. He also expressed gratitude to Nigerians back home for their prayers, support, and encouragement throughout the championship.

He encouraged everyone to keep believing in the team as they work towards their goals.