The Sierra Leone Volleyball Federation (SLVF), together with its executive and technical team, on Wednesday formally presented the national Under-18 Men’s Beach Volleyball team to the executive of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOCSL), following the team’s historic gold medal victory at the recently concluded African Youth Games held in Rwanda.
The youthful beach volleyball side etched their names into Sierra Leone’s sporting history after emerging champions of Africa by defeating their West African rivals, The Gambia, in a thrilling final. The gold medal success was made even more remarkable by the circumstances surrounding the victory, as the Sierra Leone team had earlier suffered a defeat to the same Gambian side in a pre-tournament competition hosted in The Gambia prior to their departure for Rwanda.
Speaking during the presentation, the team captain described the journey to the gold medal as one fueled by determination, resilience, and a burning desire for redemption. He explained that from the very beginning of the African Youth Games, the players were hopeful of meeting The Gambia again, even before the final, in order to avenge their earlier loss. According to him, fate aligned with their determination as they eventually faced their rivals in the championship match.
“When we finally met Gambia in the final, we knew it was our moment,” the captain said. “We played with everything we had, stayed focused, and defeated them 2–0 to become champions of Africa.” He further noted that beyond the final victory, the team set a notable record by reaching the final without losing a single match throughout the tournament, a feat that underlined their dominance and consistency.
While formally presenting the gold medalists to the NOCSL President, the Secretary General of the NOC, who also doubles as President of the Sierra Leone Volleyball Federation, Ahmed Khanou, described the achievement as a major milestone for volleyball and sports development in the country. He revealed that the victorious athletes now form a core component of a structured high-performance pathway under a strategic initiative known as “Operation Podium Finish – Dakar 2026.”
According to Ahmed Khanou, the project is designed to consolidate recent gains made by the federation, deepen athlete development, and deliver podium-level performances at forthcoming continental competitions. He emphasized that the success in Rwanda is not accidental, but rather the result of deliberate planning, discipline, and sustained technical investment.
Responding, the President of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone, Prince Vandy Sualley, commended the Volleyball Federation for what he described as exemplary leadership and strategic clarity. He noted that volleyball has set a standard for other national sporting disciplines to emulate, not only in terms of winning medals but also in governance, planning, and results delivery.
Prince Sualley further stressed that the gold medal triumph and the resulting qualification trajectory from the African Youth Games warrant national-level recognition, including presidential acknowledgement, due to their significance in enhancing Sierra Leone’s international sporting profile.
He went on to congratulate the athletes, the technical team, and the federation, while reaffirming the NOC’s commitment to sustaining focused support and targeted investment despite operating under severe funding constraints. He explained that Beach Volleyball has been prioritized because of its strong medal potential and the consistent readiness of its athletes to perform at the highest level.
The event climaxed with the symbolic presentation of the gold medals to the NOC President, who in return officially adorned the two athletes with their medals, marking a proud and memorable moment for Sierra Leonean sport.
