Afrodet Volleyball Club of Sulaymaniyah were crowned champions of the 2026 Iraq Women’s Youth Volleyball League on September 16 after defeating Akad Ankawa of Erbil 3–2 in a closely fought final at the Armenian Club Hall in Baghdad.
The five-set victory secured the national youth title for Afrodet following an intense contest between two teams from the Kurdistan Region. Both sides produced strong performances throughout the final, but Afrodet found the decisive edge in the fifth set to claim the championship under coach Sengar Mustafa.
Akad Ankawa, despite falling short in the final, completed an impressive tournament campaign by finishing as runners-up. Their appearance in the championship match also highlighted the strength of youth volleyball in Erbil and the wider Kurdistan Region.
The final was the culmination of a strong knockout-stage run for both clubs. Afrodet reached the championship match after defeating the University of Sulaymaniyah 3–1 in the semifinal, while Akad Ankawa secured its place in the final with a convincing 3–0 victory over Darbandikhan.
The results set up an all-Kurdistan championship match in Baghdad, with both finalists carrying unbeaten semifinal records into the decisive encounter.
Before the final, Darbandikhan and the University of Sulaymaniyah met in the third-place playoff. Darbandikhan recorded a 3–0 victory to secure the bronze medal and finish third overall.
The result meant that all four leading positions in the tournament went to teams from the Kurdistan Region. Afrodet finished first, followed by Akad Ankawa, Darbandikhan and the University of Sulaymaniyah.
The achievement underlined the depth of women’s youth volleyball across the region, with clubs from Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and surrounding areas producing strong results throughout the national competition.
Following the tournament, awards were presented to Afrodet, Akad Ankawa and Darbandikhan during a ceremony attended by representatives of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, the Iraqi Volleyball Federation and officials from participating clubs.
For Afrodet, the ceremony marked the conclusion of a successful championship campaign and confirmed the Sulaymaniyah club as Iraq’s women’s youth volleyball champions for 2026.
The title also represented a significant achievement for coach Sengar Mustafa and his players, who overcame the University of Sulaymaniyah in the semifinal before edging Akad Ankawa in a five-set final.
The tournament provided a strong showcase for emerging women’s volleyball talent in the Kurdistan Region. With all four top positions occupied by regional teams, the competition highlighted the growing presence of Kurdistan clubs on the national youth volleyball stage.
For Afrodet, however, the tournament ended with the ultimate prize. After a demanding five-set battle in Baghdad, the Sulaymaniyah club returned home as national champions.
