Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s Under-18 men’s beach volleyball team secured a spot in the semi-finals of the CAVB Youth Development Tournament in Banjul.
The championship, organised under the banner of Olympic Solidarity, serves as a key preparatory stage for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and showcases Africa’s brightest young volleyball talents.
The tournament also spotlighted the pair, Alie Kanessie of Air Force Volleyball Club (Bo) and Sulaiman Bangura of Forcians Volleyball Club (Freetown). Both athletes, making their international debut.
Their campaign got off to a shaky start with a straight-set loss to Nigeria on Day One. The hurdles grew tougher when Bangura fell ill during their second match against Ghana, forcing Sierra Leone to forfeit. But from adversity came resilience.
Kanessie and a fully recovered Bangura bounced back with commanding wins over Namibia and Côte d’Ivoire, setting up a high-stakes quarter-final showdown against Nigeria.
Sierra Leone duo overturned their earlier defeat, dispatching Nigeria in straight sets to claim a well-deserved spot in the semi-finals.
“This team has shown remarkable grit and determination. From battling illness to defeating a top-ranked side like Nigeria, they’ve demonstrated that Sierra Leone’s youth volleyball belongs on the continental stage,” team officials remarked after the victory.
Sierra Leone will now face Ghana once again in the semi-finals today, September 6, with a place in the finals at stake.
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