
Abidjan, Ivory Coast, November 16, 2016 - Gambia's women's teams have qualified for the third round of the CAVB Continental Cup Olympic qualifier after finishing top of the three-team second round Group B tournament held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Gambia's women's teams have enjoyed a run of twelve wins this year and again claimed victory in their encounter with Ghana on Saturday. This year, Gambia's women's beach volleyball teams have defeated Senegal, Cape Verde and Guinea. Gambia's teams have also performed well at the All Africa Games this year, both in indoor and beach volleyball.
"To have qualified for the third round and to be rated as one of Africa's best is a huge success for the overall well-being of Gambian beach volleyball," commented coach Ebrima Nyass. "When this group of players wrote down their plans to win this tournament way back in Gambia, there’s no way they could have known it would be in such dominating fashion."
Meanwhile, Ghana won gold and hosts Ivory Coast claimed bronze in the men's events, while Ghana's women claimed silver to leave bronze for Burkina Faso. The top three countries from each of the four groups (12 teams) qualify for the next round, which is the semifinal to be played beginning of 2016. Only one team in each gender group from Africa will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Day 3 results
Women:
Burkina Faso B v Ghana A 2-0 (21-18, 21-19)
Burkina Faso A v Ghana B 2-1 (21-11, 16-21, 15-10)
Ghana A V Burkina Faso A 2-0 (21-17, 21-14)
Ghana B V Burkina Faso B 2-0 (21-13, 21-19)
Golden set: Ghana v Burkina Faso 15-10, Ghana won.
Men:
Gambia A V Ivory Coast B 2-1 (15-21, 23-21, 15-11)
Gambia B V Ivory Coast A 2-0 (21-16, 21-17)
Gambia A V Ivory Coast A 2-0 (21-7, 21-10
Gambia A V Ivory Coast A 2-0 (21-18, 21-17)
Final Ranking
Women
1. Gambia
2. Ghana
3. Burkina Faso
Men
1. Ghana
2. Gambia
3. Ivory Coast