Egypt beat Nigeria but both qualify 2024 FIVB U17 World Championship
Nigeria and Egypt U17 girls volleyball teams have qualified for the FIVB U17 Girls' World Championship slated for 2024.
Egypt on Thursday night defeated the host, Nigeria 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21) in the final of the 2023 Girl's U17 African Nations Volleyball Championship at the Indoor Sports Hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
To emerge champions, Egypt proved a tough nut to crack for Cameroon and Nigeria, winning all three matches in the competition. Egypt beat Nigeria twice and defeated Cameroon in their second game. Having defeated Nigeria in the first match, Egypt beat Cameroon 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13) in the second game to qualify for Thursday's final. Nigeria defeated Cameroon in their second match and in the semi-final to book a final date with the champions. In the final match, the Nigeria U17 girls failed to take the opportunity to revenge their loss to the North Africans despite huge home support.
Egyptians started the final game on a high note and velocity getting vital points off the host.
The Nigerian team resumed the second set looking more determined, leading the set by 5 points before Egypt leveled up but came back stronger to win the second set to level up on 1-1.
The third was entertaining as both teams showed class with their defences from losing the ball. Egyptian and Nigeria were drawn in 20 to 20 points before the North African team took the third set 25 to 22 points.
In the fourth set, the Nigerian side made some tactical changes in the starting six to stop the opposite player of the Egyptian which had little effect as they eventually won by 25 to 21 points to lift the trophy.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and Egypt will represent Africa at the FIVB U17 Girl's World Championship in 2024.