Nigeria have booked a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 African Men’s Volleyball Nations Championship in Tunisia after edging Algeria in a five-set thriller.
The Nigerian side won 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12) in their final Group stage match played on Thursday, September 17.
The Zone 3 champions started strongly and led early in the opening set before the North Africans rallied to take it 25-23. Nigeria responded emphatically in the second set, dominating proceedings to win 25-19, but slipped again in the third as Algeria claimed it 25-21.
Determined to avoid a tricky Round of 16 fixture, Nigeria staged a comeback, taking the fourth set 25-20 to force a decider, before sealing victory with a 15-12 win in the tie-break.
Reacting to the victory, an elated Head Coach of the men’s team, Ryan Masajedi, praised the resilience and character of his players.
He said the team needed the win to avoid complications in the next round and had shown that the earlier victory over Chad was no fluke but a product of hard work. He also expressed delight at how the players recovered after losing the opening set, noting that they proved they could perform under pressure.
Masajedi urged the players not to get carried away by the result but to remain focused on their next opponent, while appreciating Nigerians back home for their prayers and support during the championship.
