SA’s Elevate Water Polo U23 team triumphs in Nordic League qualifiers

Elevate Water Polo’s under-23 men’s team delivered a landmark performance at the Nordic League qualifying tournament in Lisbon, Portugal over the weekend, securing three hard-fought victories and finishing top of their group.

This achievement marks a significant moment for over-20s water polo in South Africa, with the squad successfully securing their spot in the second round of the Nordic League to be played early next year.

The team opened their campaign with a clash against UK side Cheltenham, securing a 17–16 victory after a tense penalty shootout. They followed this up with a commanding 20–10 win over Copenhagen of Denmark, before closing the tournament with another nail-biting shootout triumph, defeating home side Sporting Clube de Portugal 16–15 in front of a passionate local crowd after a 13-13 draw.

Elevate’s Sebastian Riley-Nielsen was named MVP in the final match after contributing four goals, one assist and three steals to the team effort.

Afterwards he praised the squad’s calm under pressure, saying: “The environment was intense for the final match and I am proud of the guys for keeping their composure. We all were clear on our roles and just kept our heads down and did the job and put a good team performance in, which got us the win.”

Head coach of the side and co-founder of Elevate Water Polo Duncan Woods was also full of praise.

“We were delighted with the performance of the team and to win in all three matches on European soil and finish top of the group was ideal,” he said. “We are feeling that this was a worthwhile investment in this age group and look forward to progressing into the top part of the draw in the Nordic League competition.”

The Elevate team now advance to the second round of the Nordic League, scheduled for March 2026, with the ultimate prize being qualification for the finals in June next year.

This success boosts Elevate Water Polo’s mission to bridge the gap between school-level and senior international competition, providing South African players in their early twenties with vital exposure to high-level European competition.