Kenya’s national women’s volleyball team, the Malkia Strikers, continued their impressive run at the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Nations Championship with a convincing 3-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi.
Playing in front of the home crowd, Kenya had to negotiate a competitive opening set before eventually establishing control. Nigeria stayed within touching distance for much of the set, but the hosts held their nerve at the crucial moments to take it 25-21 and move 1-0 ahead.
The victory in the opening set appeared to settle the Malkia Strikers, who returned for the second set with greater authority. Kenya gradually opened up a comfortable advantage, putting Nigeria under sustained pressure and limiting their opportunities to mount a comeback. The hosts completed the set 25-17 to move within one set of the quarter-finals.
Kenya maintained the momentum in the third set and quickly took command. Nigeria struggled to match the hosts’ intensity as the Malkia Strikers controlled the exchanges and steadily extended their lead. Kenya eventually wrapped up the set 25-15, completing a straight-sets victory.
The result keeps Kenya unbeaten in the championship following earlier Group A victories over Zambia and Mali. The hosts now advance to the quarter-finals with their confidence high as they continue their pursuit of continental honours on home soil.
Kenya will be joined in the last eight by Uganda and Algeria, who also registered straight-sets victories in Saturday’s Round of 16 action.
Uganda produced a strong performance against the Democratic Republic of Congo, taking the opening set 25-16 before being pushed all the way in the second. The Ugandans eventually prevailed 27-25 in a tightly contested set before completing the sweep with a 25-18 victory in the third.
Algeria also enjoyed a comfortable afternoon, defeating Senegal 3-0. Algeria controlled the opening set 25-15 and continued to dictate the match in the second, winning 25-17. They then closed out the contest 25-16 to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
The remaining four quarter-finalists will be determined on Sunday when the other Round of 16 ties take centre stage at Kasarani.
Rwanda will meet Burkina Faso at 10:00 am, followed by Zambia’s clash with Ghana at 1:00 pm. Egypt will then face Burundi at 4:00 pm, before Tunisia and Mali bring the Round of 16 to a close in a 7:00 pm encounter.
The four winners from Sunday’s matches will complete the quarter-final line-up alongside Kenya, Uganda and Algeria, setting up the next stage of the continental championship.
