By: Madi Seneghore
The Gambia’s men’s beach volleyball team clinched the Zone II Qualifying Tournament title for the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship after defeating Cape Verde 2-0 in the final on Sunday.
The Gambian pair of Sainey Jawo and Laity Nyabally delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament and capped their campaign with a straight-sets victory to secure the regional crown.
The triumph also earned The Gambia qualification for the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Championship, where the duo will compete against some of Africa’s top teams later this year.
The victory comes shortly after the national beach volleyball team received financial support from the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), enabling its participation in the tournament.
The success marks a major achievement for Gambian volleyball and highlights the country’s growing presence in continental competition.
It also underscores the importance of continued investment in athlete development and international exposure as The Gambia seeks to strengthen its sporting profile and advance its ambitions towards qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Jawo and Nyabally’s achievement is expected to provide further encouragement for the development of beach volleyball and other emerging sports in The Gambia.
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