The curtains have fallen on the CAVB Youth Development Cup in Banjul, The Gambia, with Sierra Leone’s U18 Beach Volleyball boys team bowing out gracefully in the gold medal match. Team Salone fought bravely but succumbed to the hosts by two sets to nothing (21–17, 21–16) in a contest that kept fans on edge.
Although the result was not the flourish Sierra Leoneans had hoped for, the young athletes held their heads high. Their journey to the finals was a remarkable display of grit, determination, and promise for the future of the sport in Sierra Leone.
The Gambian pair, silver medalists at the maiden School Games in Algeria and reigning African U18 champions from Abuja, proved a formidable side. Having been on the road for the past two months, their experience and cohesion gave them the final edge on home soil.
Sierra Leone’s silver medal finish, however, underlines the steady progress of the country’s beach volleyball programme, part of the wider Operation Podium Finish Dakar 2026 initiative, aimed at positioning the nation strongly for the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
Team Salone may not have left Banjul with gold, but they have won respect, inspiration, and invaluable experience that will shape their road to future continental and global championships.
