Supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, The Gambia`s girls` team secured a silver medal at the first CAVB Under 18 Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup, hosted on Kasumai Beach in Banjul from September 4-6.
This event, a joint initiative by Olympic Solidarity and FIVB, serves as preparation for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. It`s an integral component of a broader Youth Athlete Development Programme, which marries competitive play with ongoing commitment to long-term athletic growth.
FIVB allocated USD 42,000 for a year-long youth beach volleyball program in The Gambia, with Félix Lopez coaching the junior girls` team.
Hoja Njie and Mariama Sambou from The Gambia achieved a four-match winning streak, dominating Pool A without a loss and then triumphing in their quarterfinal and semifinal matches to reach the final.
Njie and Sambou defeated Morocco`s Hafsa Bouysfi and Marwa Chalhaoui in straight sets (23-21, 23-21) in the semifinals, advancing to the final where they experienced their only loss of the competition.
Ekete Moseka and Matatanu Mayala from the Democratic Republic of Congo clinched the gold medal by beating 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 the semifinals.
Pamela and Faustina secured Nigeria`s bronze medal by easily defeating Bouysfi and Marwa (21-07, 21-12) in the third-place playoff. This coincides with the launch of Nigeria`s Coach Support project, part of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, where Coach Luciano Regis will lead all national beach volleyball teams.
In the boys` event, The Gambia`s Bakary Ensa Kanyi and Abdallah Bah achieved a remarkable five-match winning streak, culminating in a gold medal victory.
Bakary and Bah secured their gold by defeating Sierra Leone`s Sulaiman Bangura and Alie Kainesie in straight sets (21-17, 21-16) in the final, capping off a dominant performance where they lost only one set across five matches.
The Gambian duo`s 2-1 (21-16, 20-22, 15-08) semifinal win against Morocco`s Adam Lahsini and Youssef Bouysfi was their sole match where they dropped a set, having progressed unbeaten through Pool A and the quarterfinals.
Sierra Leone`s Sulay and Ali advanced to the final by beating Ghana`s Justice Adusei Amoafo and Daniel Lartey 2-0 (21-12, 21-15). Justice and Dan later clinched the bronze medal for Ghana, overcoming Lahsini and Bouysfi 2-0 (21-17, 21-13) in the third-place playoff.
The CAVB Under 18 Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup in Banjul featured 9 boys` teams and 9 girls` teams, representing nations including Gambia, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
Concurrently, FIVB also supported the CAVB International Referee Candidates Course (IRCC) in The Gambia, investing USD 6,000 through the Volleyball Empowerment programme.
The course, which began on September 1, was inaugurated by The Gambia`s Minister of Youth and Sport, Bakary Y Badgie. It was led by Brazilian referee expert Elzir Martins, with assistance from Ehab Narder of Egypt.
This initiative saw robust participation, drawing 22 candidates from 20 National Federations, along with 7 additional observers.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood