Nigeria’s Esther M. and Pamela B. celebrate after clinching gold against Ghana in the women’s final at the 2025 CAVB Zone 3 Nations Cup in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria and Ghana cemented their status as West Africa’s beach volleyball powerhouses at the 2025 Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone 3 Nations Cup, which ended on August 29 in Port-Bouët, Ivory Coast.
The four-day tournament, staged at the scenic Agora Anani Beach, attracted a record participation of seven nations, featuring 16 men’s pairs and 12 women’s pairs.
Nigeria once again reigned supreme in the women’s division, clinching both gold and bronze. The experienced duo of Esther M. and Pamela B. triumphed in a thrilling three-set final against Ghana’s Mawuse and J. Aryee (21–23, 21–16, 15–9) after 55 minutes of pulsating action.
Their compatriots Faustina and Joy claimed bronze following a dramatic 2–1 victory over Ghana’s Joana and Grace, ensuring Nigeria occupied two spots on the podium.
On the men’s side, Ghana took charge, with Ibrahim and Akan defeating Benin’s Yacoubou and Tohouegnon in straight sets (21–19, 21–17) to secure gold. Earlier, Benin had swept aside Niger in the semi-finals, while Ghana’s depth was further highlighted in an all-domestic clash.
Ghana added bronze after Tsatsu and Philip rallied from a set down to beat Niger’s Seini Ali and Abdoulaye 2–1 (18–21, 21–16, 15–11) in a 51-minute thriller.
Organisers hailed the Port-Bouët edition as one of the most successful in recent memory, both for its scale and quality. Nearly 30 teams competed across both genders, testing logistics but drawing enthusiastic crowds who witnessed the sport’s rising profile in the region.
In the end, Nigeria and Ghana walked away with four of the six medals on offer, underlining their dominance and confirming the growing influence of Anglophone nations in West African beach volleyball. Analysts say the results point to a stronger continental presence for both countries in future competitions.
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