Participants set for grand start of African U-18 and U-19 Volleyball Championship in Alexandria

Participants set for grand start of African U-18 and U-19 Volleyball Championship in Alexandria

...As Nigeria, 13 other countries land in Egypt

Participating countries for the 2026 African U-18 Volleyball Championship for boys and girls have started arriving in Alexandria ahead of the continental tournament, which will run until July 30 at the Pioneers Club in Alexandria, Egypt.

The championship will feature some of Africa's brightest young volleyball talents, with countries including hosts Egypt, Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon, Senegal and Burundi among the participants.

President of the Local Organising Committee, MP Aida Ismail, revealed that 14 national teams have already arrived, while the remaining delegations are expected over the coming days before (today) Tuesday's official draw, which will determine the tournament fixtures.

Team Nigeria left for the Championship on Sunday after a one intensive camping program at the High Performance Centre.

The competition will officially get underway on Wednesday with a grand opening ceremony at the Pioneers Club.

The event will be attended by Minister Gohar Nabil, Governor Ayman Attia, President of the African Volleyball Confederation Bouchra Hajij, and several leading figures from the sporting community.

Aida Ismail, who also serves as a Board Member of the African Volleyball Confederation and a member of the FIVB Development Commission, said extensive preparations are being made to ensure the championship reflects Egypt's reputation as a world-class host of major sporting events.

She expressed appreciation to the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Alexandria Governorate for their unwavering support, praising their commitment to providing the resources needed to stage a successful tournament.

According to Ismail, hosting the African U-18 Volleyball Championship in Alexandria for the first time marks a major milestone for the city and highlights its growing ability to stage elite continental competitions, thanks to its modern infrastructure and organisational capacity.

She also thanked African Volleyball Confederation President Bouchra Hajij for her continued support and commitment to ensuring the championship is delivered to the highest standard while showcasing the progress of African volleyball.

With final organisational, technical and logistical preparations in full swing, the Local Organising Committee is confident the tournament will meet international standards and further strengthen Alexandria's bid to host more major continental and global sporting events in the future.