The 2026 AFECAVOL Women’s Central American Final Four tournament kicked off in Managua on October 16 with a stunning upset, as unseeded Belize pulled off a 3-1 opening-match victory over two-time defending champions Nicaragua. The four-set scorecard reflected the tight, back-and-forth nature of the contest: 25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 26-24.
Powerhouse outside hitter Fatoumata Camara delivered a career-defining performance to anchor Belize’s win, notching a match-high 36 points to dominate both offensive and defensive rotations. Team captain Nelisa Ramírez contributed a solid 11 points to the final score, while for host nation Nicaragua, top scorer Britani Forbes put up 17 points in a losing effort, as Nicaragua aimed to secure an unprecedented third consecutive continental title.
The most dramatic moment of the match unfolded in the decisive fourth set. After Belize built a comfortable 24-20 lead, Nicaragua mounted a ferocious comeback, clawing back four consecutive points to level the score at 24-all. With tournament stakes on the line, Belize held its nerve to win the final two points, closing out the set 26-24 and securing the full match victory without needing a deciding fifth set.
Following the win, Camara struck a measured tone, emphasizing that the underdog side still has room to grow despite the opening upset. “We have room for improvement, especially when it comes to closing out matches,” she told reporters after the game. “I think we can still improve a lot because we have two important matches remaining.”
Belize head coach Lawrence Bennett shared that he felt enormous relief after his side closed out the contest in four sets, admitting he had braced for a full five-set battle against the experienced defending champions. “It was a very close match. I thought it would go to five sets, but we secured it in four,” Bennett said.
On the Nicaraguan side, head coach Claudia Noguera praised Belize’s standout performance, highlighting the winning side’s dominance in key attacking and blocking rotations. Noguera also remained optimistic about her team’s path forward in the tournament, noting that Nicaragua still has two matches left to climb the standings and retain its title bid. “Belize showed a lot of strength in attacking and blocking. We have to work on improving for our next two matches. We’re still in contention,” Noguera said.
Belize is set to return to the court on October 17 at 4:30 p.m. local time to face Costa Rica in its second group phase match. The round-robin Final Four tournament will run through October 18, with the overall winner earning a coveted automatic berth in the 2027 Women’s Pan American Cup.