Badagry, Lagos State, has received strong backing to host more beach volleyball competitions following the successful staging of the 2026 African Nations Cup Beach Volleyball Zone 3 Championship.
The President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Musa Nimrod, described Badagry as an ideal venue for major beach volleyball events.
Nimrod said hosting the championship in the coastal town proved to be the right decision, citing its terrain, beachfront courts and tourism potential.
“We always like to bring our players to Badagry because of the condition and terrain, which are suitable for beach volleyball.
“We usually conclude our training camp here before travelling for international competitions because it provides the perfect preparation for our athletes,” Nimrod said.
He added that athletes enjoyed quality accommodation, feeding and welfare throughout the championship, contributing to the success of the tournament.
According to him, the event also promoted tourism by giving participants the opportunity to visit historical monuments linked to the transatlantic slave trade.
“We are proud of Badagry because it offers much more than sports. Participants have visited historical monuments and learned about the town’s rich heritage,” he said.
The championship attracted large crowds, especially children, many of whom participated in volleyball development programmes organised by the federation and its partners.
Nimrod said Badagry had become one of the federation’s preferred training centres and expressed confidence that it would host more national and international beach volleyball tournaments.
He also urged countries that qualified for the continental finals to intensify preparations through training camps and competitive matches.
“We expect all the qualified countries to prepare very well because other zones will also be preparing strongly,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigeria Beach Volleyball Commission, Stephen Hasso, described the championship as a major success.
“It is always a delight to host beach volleyball in Badagry because the courts are located close to the beach, providing the ideal atmosphere for the game,” Hasso said.
He noted that Nigeria’s victories reflected thorough preparation and the country’s growing strength in beach volleyball, with both the men’s and women’s teams winning gold medals.
Nigeria won both titles, while Ghana claimed silver in the men’s and women’s events. Niger secured bronze in the men’s competition, while Côte d’Ivoire finished third in the women’s event.
The championship featured six countries — Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Benin and Liberia — and served as the Zone 3 qualifier for the continental finals.
