Africa’s next generation of beach volleyball talent has taken another important step towards the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 following the successful conclusion of the 2nd CAVB Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup in Senegal last month.
The event took place at Saly Beach in Senegal, bringing together the African teams qualified for Dakar 2026 on the same sand where they will return later this year for the Youth Olympic Games.
The field featured seven men’s and seven women’s teams representing 13 National Federations. South Africa, Senegal, Namibia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Morocco are competing in the men’s event, while Senegal, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria and The Gambia make up the women’s field.
(Photo credits: CAVB)
Sierra Leone came out on top in the men’s competition, ahead of Ghana and DR Congo, while Nigeria topped the women’s podium, followed by hosts Senegal and Egypt.
Together, the 13 participating National Federations represented all African teams qualified for Dakar 2026 – and arrived in Saly backed by significant development support.
(Photo credits: CAVB)
Collectively, they have benefited from approximately USD 4.1 million through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, including six ongoing beach volleyball coach support projects. Nine have also received additional IOC Olympic Solidarity support through Team Support Grants or Development of National Sports System funding.
But the significance of the initiative stretches well beyond the sand itself.
Delivered through collaboration between IOC Olympic Solidarity, the FIVB and CAVB, the event formed part of the wider Youth Athlete Development Programme, combining meaningful international competition with sustained investment in the development of young athletes.
James Macleod, IOC Director of NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365, said:
“As Dakar 2026 approaches, it is particularly meaningful to see young beach volleyball players from across Africa gaining valuable competition experience on the very sand where they will return for the Youth Olympic Games. Through the Youth Athlete Development Programme, Olympic Solidarity is proud to work with the FIVB to support these athletes on their journey to Dakar, while contributing to the longer-term development of beach volleyball across the continent.”
It built on the inaugural African Beach Volleyball Youth Development Cup staged in The Gambia in 2025, continuing a journey that is providing Africa’s young beach volleyball players with valuable competition and preparation on the road to Dakar 2026 – the first Olympic event to be held in Africa. Read more here.
CAVB beach volleyball coach training seminar took place in Saly ahead of the competition (Photo credits: CAVB)
That support has also extended to the coaches and officials around the athletes through the FIVB Knowledge Transfer Programme.
Coaches from five countries took part in a bilingual training course delivered in collaboration with the Senegalese Volleyball Federation and CAVB, while 12 National Technical Officials in Senegal gained practical international competition experience ahead of Dakar 2026.
The aim is not only to prepare athletes and officials for the Youth Olympic Games, but to strengthen African coaching and officiating expertise for the long term.
FIVB President Fabio Azevedo said:
“Dakar 2026 will be a historic moment for sport in Africa and around the globe. These young athletes are at the centre of that journey, and it is important that we give them the competition, coaching and development opportunities they need to fulfil their full potential.
“What makes this initiative particularly powerful is what we can achieve by working together and therefore helping transform people’s lives. We are incredibly grateful to IOC Olympic Solidarity for their valued partnership and shared commitment to supporting young athletes and strengthening sport across Africa.
“From The Gambia in 2025 to Senegal this year and now towards Dakar 2026, we can see that journey taking shape. By investing in these young athletes we can help ensure this historic moment leaves a lasting legacy for beach volleyball across the continent.”
Together, the initiatives reflect the wider ambition of Olympic Solidarity, the FIVB and the CAVB to use the road to Dakar 2026 to strengthen African beach volleyball well beyond the Games themselves.
For the young athletes in Saly, Dakar 2026 is drawing ever closer. When they return to this same sand later this year, they will do so with valuable competition experience behind them.
Title photo credits: CAVB
