2019 Africa Beach V’ball: Nigeria, Ghana, Angola shine on Day 1

By Akeem Lawal

Host Nigeria, Angola, Ghana and Mozambique won their respective matches at the ongoing 2019 Africa Nations Beach Volleyball male and female Cup Seniors holding at the Jabi Lake Park, Abuja.

Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports that Nigeria’s duo, Goodluck Anyasodike and Godwin Shekarau beat Tanzania 21-13, 21-14 in the first match of Pool A before defeating Mauritius 21-12, 23-21 in their second game.

In the other Pool A match, Ghana overcame Botswana 3-1 (21-15, 20-22, 16-14) and went on to whitewash Tanzania 2-0 (21-14, 21-12).

South Africa were too strong for Sudan as they beat them 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) and won Gambia 2-0 (21-18, 21-13), while Mozambique beat Zambia 2-0 (21-13, 21-14) and Sudan 2-1 (21-18, 21-18) in the Pool B.

In the Pool C, Angola lead the table after winning two matches against Benin Republic 2-0 (21-15, 21-10) and Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 (21-05, 21-13).

Rwanda produced an outstanding performance beating Egypt 3-1 (20-22, 21-13, 15-12) to top Pool D.

Coach of Rwanda, Paul Bitok told newsmen that he is in Abuja to lift the trophy despite having three North Africans in his pool.

In the female category,  Tochukwu Nnoruga and Fransica Ikhiede from Nigeria  beat Gambia  Abie Kujabi and Fatoumata Ceesay 21-10, 21-16 to end the game 2-0.

At the end of the game, the captain of team Nigeria, Tochukwu Nnoruga said she was happy that they won their first game.

 “The last set was difficult but I’m happy that we won the game, we will be playing Egypt this evening we will work hard to defeat them because they have been our challenges in this beach volleyball,” she said.

A total of 21 countries are participating in the 2019 Africa Nations Beach Volleyball male and female Cup Seniors.

Male Groups:

Pool A: Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Botswana, Tanzania

Pool B: Mozambique, South Africa, Gambia, Sudan, Zambia.

Pool C: Sierra Leone, Angola, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire

Pool D: Rwanda, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt

Female Groups:

Pool A: Nigeria, Egypt and Gambia,

Pool B: Rwanda, Algeria, Niger

Pool C:  Morocco Sierra Leone, Sudan, Botswana

Pool D: Mozambique, Mauritius, Cote d’Ivoire

Day 1 male Results:

Nigeria v Tanzania 2-0 (21-12, 21-18) 

Mozambique v Zambia 2-0 (21-13, 21-14)

Sierra Leone v Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 (21-9, 21-13)

Rwanda v Egypt 3-1 (20-22, 21-13, 15-12)

Ghana v Botswana 3-1 (21-15, 20-22, 16-14)

South Africa v Sudan 2-0 (21-12, 21-16)

Angola v Benin Republic 2-0 (21-15, 21-10)

Morocco v Algeria 1-2 (14-21, 14-21)

Nigeria v Mauritius 2-0 (21-17, 23-21)

South Africa v Gambia 2-0 (21-18, 21-13)

Angola v Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 (21-05, 21-13)

Mozambique v Sudan 2-1 (21-18, 21-18)

Gambia v Zambia 2-0 (21-19, 21-10) 

Ghana v Tanzania 2-0 (21-14, 21-12)

Female:

Morocco v Botswana 2-0 (21-14, 21-9)

Nigeria v Gambia 2-0 (21-10, 21-16)

Rwanda v Niger 2-0(21-13, 21-9)

Mozambique v Ivory Coast 2-0 (21-11, 21-7)

Sierra Leone v Sudan (21-19, 21-19)

Algeria v Niger 1-2 (22-24, 21-15, 12-15)