African Volleyball Enters a New Era of Growth, Gautam Karve, Editor-in-Chief, WMO
9th Sep 2026 – African volleyball is entering an important phase of growth, with national teams, young athletes and beach volleyball programmes making significant strides across the continent.
The wider development journey of African volleyball was highlighted during a series of meetings in Nairobi involving the FIVB, CAVB, National Federation leaders and representatives from several African volleyball zones.
The FIVB delegation, led by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, together with CAVB President Bouchra Hajij, held discussions with leaders from Nigeria, Togo, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Senegal, Ghana, The Gambia, Cameroon, Benin, Uganda and Kenya. Leaders from Zones 3, 4 and 5 also participated in discussions focused on strengthening the foundations of the sport.
Recent achievements underline Africa’s growing presence on the international stage. Morocco won the men’s title at the 2026 CAVB Africa Beach Volleyball Championships, securing an LA28 Olympic quota place, while Egypt’s supported U18 boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for the 2027 FIVB U19 World Championships.
The Gambia also recorded a historic milestone at the 2025 FIVB U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship with a victory over the USA.
With the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 approaching, the focus is now on creating stronger pathways for young athletes and expanding participation.
On behalf of the World Media Organization, I extend my warmest congratulations to the African volleyball community, FIVB, CAVB, National Federations, athletes, coaches and administrators for their outstanding progress.
The future of African volleyball is bright, and with continued cooperation and investment, the continent’s volleyball ecosystem can grow stronger at every level.
