Yaoundé’s Lac Municipal was the centre of beach volleyball attraction this Sunday as the Association des Académies et Centres de Formation de Volley-ball du Cameroun, working alongside CocaBeach, wrapped up its 2026 Youth Beach Volleyball Tournament. And by most accounts, it delivered exactly what it set out to do.
The tournament was built around three ideas that AACFVC holds close: training, discovery, and getting young people excited about beach volleyball. Judging by the turnout and the standard of play, it hit the mark on all three.
Who Took the Honours
When the sand had settled, Académie du Lac (VAL) topped the standings, with Cité U Évolution taking second and Mbalmayo Volleyball rounding out the podium in third. Across the day, the competing teams showed real technical promise, sharp competitive instincts, and a fair play spirit that organisers were quick to praise.
Big Names on the Sidelines
What gave the event extra weight was the guest list. Former Cameroon international Moïse Madon stayed pitchside from the first serve to the last, cheering the young athletes on throughout. National Technical Director Marie-Andrée was also there, as she so often is at these grassroots events, continuing her long-standing commitment to developing the sport from the ground up.
International referees Benga and Mboumteke made the trip too, keen to show support for the next generation of players, while veteran figure Ballace, a name well respected in Cameroonian volleyball circles, came along to lend his backing to the initiative.
A Colombian Expert’s Verdict
Perhaps the most striking moment of the day came from Alfredo Jaime Beltrán, the FIVB’s international beach volleyball expert, who is originally from Colombia. He didn’t hold back his praise for what he’d seen, singling out the quality of coaching happening inside Cameroon’s training centres and calling for more tournaments of this kind, describing them as genuine tools for development and for spotting fresh talent.
Speaking after the matches, Beltrán gave a fuller picture of the work underway and where he believes it’s heading.
He explained that he arrived in Cameroon back in February to help drive the development of beach volleyball across the country’s age group categories, and that the project already has ambitious targets attached to it. Looking ahead, he said his aim, should the programme continue under his guidance, is to see Cameroon’s youth teams qualify for the World Championship. He was candid that the under 21 category might prove a tougher ask in the short term, but felt confident the work being put in now could still get the country there.
On where things currently stand, Beltrán noted encouraging technical progress among the boys, while the girls’ side, he said, is closing in on African level in both youth categories. Even so, he was clear that a shift in mindset is needed among the players themselves. Cameroon, he argued, cannot afford to train for beach volleyball the way it trains for indoor volleyball, treating each discipline the same way and preparing for only one competition at a time. Each format has its own demands, and building readiness for international competition means training year-round rather than in three- or four-month bursts before a tournament.
His reasoning was straightforward. Cameroon, he said, already ranks around third or fourth in Africa, but the goal has to be reaching the very top, with sights eventually set on the world stage. He confirmed his intention to return and continue the project, adding that he feels very much at home in Cameroon, comparing the climate and the warmth of the people to his native Colombia. He also praised the backing he has received from CocaBeach and the Cameroon Volleyball Federation, calling his time in the country a great experience and one he hopes will translate into further progress for the players under his guidance.
Gratitude All Round
AACFVC used the occasion to thank the Cameroon Volleyball Federation, CocaBeach, the participating training centres, match officials, coaches, parents and every partner who helped bring the day together. As the association put it, days like this prove that investing in youth development remains the surest path to building the future of volleyball, and beach volleyball, in Cameroon.
AACFVC, shaping today’s talent into tomorrow’s champions, on the sand and on the court.
