ANOCA Awards Nigeria 2027 Beach Volleyball Championship Hosting Rights
Nigeria has secured the hosting rights for the 2027 Africa Beach Volleyball Championship, with Lagos set to stage the continental competition as part of the country’s growing ambition to become a major destination for international sporting events.
The announcement represents another milestone in the partnership between Nigeria and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), coming shortly after the country secured hosting rights for the second edition of the African School Games, also scheduled for 2027.
President of ANOCA, Mustapha Berraf, announced the decision in Abuja, praising Nigeria’s recent sports development initiatives and describing the country as an emerging leader in African sports.
Berraf said the reforms being implemented by the National Sports Commission under the leadership of Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade have demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to repositioning its sports sector.
‘I want to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria for what it has been doing in sports in recent times. That is why we wasted no time in awarding Nigeria the hosting rights,’ Berraf said.
He noted that Nigeria’s history of successfully organising major international competitions influenced ANOCA’s decision, recalling the country’s ability to step in at short notice to host the CAA Africa U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta.
According to him, such achievements reflect the country’s determination and readiness to support sports development at the highest level.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said hosting the Africa Beach Volleyball Championship aligns with the Commission’s vision of using sports as a tool for economic growth and national development.
‘We are serious about boosting the country’s sports economy, and one of the ways to achieve this is by attracting more international sporting events to Nigeria,” Dikko stated.
Meanwhile, plans are also advancing for Nigeria to host Africa’s Olympic qualification events ahead of the 2030 Olympic Games.
ANOCA and the African Union are currently considering arrangements that would see Nigeria stage the continental qualifiers, a move aimed at reducing the burden on African athletes who often travel outside the continent to secure Olympic qualification.
The latest hosting rights further underline Nigeria’s growing role in African sports administration and its ambition to use major competitions to drive investment, tourism and economic opportunities.
