Nigeria have made history by qualifying for the beach volleyball event at the Olympic Games for the first time, after Esther Mbah and Pamela Bawa secured the country’s ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The Nigerian pair achieved the historic feat on Saturday, August 22, 2026, defeating Morocco 2-0 in the women’s final of the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Alexandria, Egypt.

Mbah and Bawa dominated the decisive encounter, winning the opening set 21-18 before completing the job with a commanding 21-10 victory in the second set.

The triumph not only secured the continental title for Nigeria but also delivered the country’s maiden qualification for the Olympic beach volleyball competition.

The victory represents a major milestone for Nigerian volleyball and adds a new chapter to the country’s Olympic sporting history, with Mbah and Bawa set to become Nigeria’s first beach volleyball representatives at the Games.

The Nigerian duo maintained their composure in the final against Morocco, producing a disciplined display to claim both sets and seal their place at Los Angeles 2028.

Their success in Alexandria comes as a significant boost for Nigeria’s beach volleyball programme, demonstrating the growing strength of the discipline on the continent and the potential of Nigerian players to compete at the highest international level.

For Mbah and Bawa, the victory marks the beginning of a new Olympic journey, with the pair now set to carry Nigeria’s hopes when beach volleyball takes centre stage at the Los Angeles Games.

The historic qualification is also expected to raise the profile of beach volleyball in Nigeria and inspire greater investment in the sport, particularly in grassroots development and international preparation.

With the African title secured and Olympic qualification confirmed, attention will now turn to preparations for Los Angeles 2028 as Mbah and Bawa prepare to write another chapter in Nigerian sporting history.