Nigeria have reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship after fighting back to beat Algeria 3-2 in Tunisia.
Nigeria have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in Tunisia, after battling back to defeat Algeria 3-2 in their final Group C game on Thursday.
The Zone 3 champions recovered from losing the first and third sets to prevail 23-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12 in a five-set thriller. The victory earned Nigeria a quarter-final ticket and further underlined their resilience in the tournament, with coach Ryan Masajedi praising the players for their response after twice falling behind.
“I am impressed with the way the players picked up after losing the first set. The set was in our hands but the Algerians were lucky it went in their favour,” the Japanese coach said. “The players have once again shown that they can perform under any circumstances, and they picked up after the first set and we ended up winning the match.”
How the Comeback Unfolded
Nigeria started strongly, but Algeria edged the opening set 25-23. The Nigerians responded in the second, winning 25-19, before the North Africans regained the advantage with a 25-21 victory in the third. The Zone 3 champions refused to surrender, taking the fourth set 25-20 to force a deciding tie-break, which they won 15-12 to complete the comeback.
Masajedi explained that Nigeria needed the win to avoid a tougher path through the Round of 16, and said the victory was important after Nigeria’s opening win over Chad, adding that the players had shown their first result was not a fluke.
“We started the tournament playing Chad and the victory against Algeria has cemented us amongst the favourites at the Nations Championship,” he said.
Building on a Strong Start
Nigeria had opened their campaign on Wednesday with a 3-0 victory over Chad, winning 25-17, 25-17 and 25-6. Speaking after that match, Masajedi credited the team’s preparation for the dominant display.
“I am excited that the players played according to the instructions given to them; it shows our training programme worked out. They executed the game plan, and we had no issues beating Chad in our first match,” he said at the time, adding that the team would not be carried away by the result as they shifted focus to Algeria.
What’s at Stake
The team are competing in Tunisia, where the tournament runs from September 13 to 25, with the targets of securing the continent’s sole ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and qualifying for the 2027 FIVB World Championship.
With their quarter-final place secured, Masajedi urged the players not to be carried away by the victory and to begin preparations for their next opponent. He also thanked Nigerians back home for their prayers, support and encouragement throughout the championship, urging them to continue believing in the team as they pursue their targets.
