The Gambia`s young athletes delivered an outstanding performance at the inaugural CAVB Under 18 Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup, held from September 4 to 6 at Kasumai Beach in Banjul. Bolstered by support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, the Gambian girls` team clinched a silver medal, while the boys` team soared to gold.
This significant competition was a joint initiative by Olympic Solidarity and the FIVB, forming a crucial component of a broader Youth Athlete Development Program. The program aims to integrate high-level competitive play with sustained, long-term investment in athlete growth.
Sheila Stephens Desbans, Head of Sport Development and Oceania Continental Manager for Olympic Solidarity, expressed enthusiasm for the event`s impact. She noted, “The IOC, through Olympic Solidarity, is eager to witness how this recent collaboration with FIVB will empower African National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Federations (NFs) with a cohort of talented athletes, simultaneously reinforcing best practices within the Olympic Movement. We have observed the continuous evolution of the sport across Africa, guided by the FIVB, which underscores the immense talent present on the continent. As we look forward to the Dakar Youth Olympic Games in 2026, these athletes, supported by dedicated coaches and officials, represent the future stars. Such projects effectively bolster the efforts of NOCs and NFs in conjunction with International Federations (IFs).”
The FIVB has demonstrated its commitment by investing USD 42,000 into a year-long youth beach volleyball program in The Gambia, with Félix Lopez guiding the junior girls` team.
Girls` Tournament Highlights
In the girls` tournament, Gambian duo Hoja Njie and Mariama Sambou showcased exceptional skill, winning four consecutive matches. They dominated Pool A without a single defeat before confidently advancing through the quarterfinals and semifinals. Their semifinal victory came against Morocco’s Hafsa Bouysfi and Marwa Chalhaoui in straight sets (23-21, 23-21), securing their spot in the final where they experienced their only loss of the competition.
The gold medal in the girls` category went to Ekete Moseka and Matatanu Mayala of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who triumphed over the host team 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) in the final. Earlier, they had overcome Nigeria`s Pamela Miyoum Bawa and Odoh Ifechukwu Faustina 2-1 (16-21, 21-16, 15-12) in a closely contested semifinal. Pamela and Faustina then secured the bronze medal for Nigeria by defeating Bouysfi and Marwa 2-0 (21-07, 21-12) in the third-place playoff. Notably, Nigeria will soon benefit from a Coach Support project under the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, with Coach Luciano Regis set to lead all national beach volleyball teams.
Boys` Tournament Highlights
The boys` competition saw an equally impressive display from The Gambia`s Bakary Ensa Kanyi and Abdallah Bah. They achieved a remarkable five-match winning streak, culminating in their gold medal victory. Bakary and Bah defeated Sierra Leone’s Sulaiman Bangura and Alie Kainesie in straight sets (21-17, 21-16) in the final, capping off a dominant run where they dropped only one set throughout five matches. Their sole dropped set occurred during a 2-1 (21-16, 20-22, 15-08) semifinal win against Morocco’s Adam Lahsini and Youssef Bouysfi, after they had cruised through Pool A and the quarterfinals undefeated.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone`s Sulay and Ali reached the final by beating Ghana’s Justice Adusei Amoafo and Daniel Lartey 2-0 (21-12, 21-15). Justice and Dan rallied in the third-place playoff, securing the bronze medal for Ghana with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-13) victory over Lahsini and Bouysfi.
Continental Participation and Referee Development
The CAVB Under 18 Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup in Banjul brought together 9 boys` duos and 9 girls` pairs, representing twelve nations: Gambia, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
Alongside the competition, the FIVB also supported an important initiative in The Gambia: the CAVB International Referee Candidates Course (IRCC). This was made possible by a USD 6,000 investment from the Volleyball Empowerment program. The course, which commenced on September 1, was officially opened by The Gambia’s Minister of Youth and Sport, Bakary Y Badgie. Brazilian referee expert Elzir Martins led the training, assisted by Ehab Narder from Egypt. The initiative saw robust participation, with 25 candidates from 20 different National Federations and an additional 7 observers taking part, underscoring a commitment to developing officiating talent across the continent.
Finley Blackwood 
Jasper Thornfield