Kenya’s women’s senior volleyball team on wednesday claimed the last available place in semifinals with victory over Cameroon (host) 3-1 at the ongoing 2023 Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The match, being played at the Palais Polyvalent des Sports de Yaounde, on wednesday saw Kenya side recorded a 3-1 win (25-27, 25-14, 25-11, 25-18 ) to progress to the final stage.
Cameroon are defending champions and Kenya are the runners up of 2021 edition in Rwanda.
Cameroon had led the first set 27-25 but Kenya bounced back from a set down to equalise at 25-14.
Kenya fought hard in the tough game against Cameroon, winning the third set 25-11, and maintained the lead to claim the fourth set 25-18 to end the game.
Kenya had earlier on beaten Nigeria in the quarterfinals match on Tuesday 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-11) to advance to semifinals while Cameroon beat Morocco 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-18) to advance to semifinals.
Kenya played in the group stage in pool B, alongside Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Lesotho.
The Kenyans won over Rwanda 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-17), beat Burkina Faso 3-0 ( 25-10, 25-09, 25-10), then hammered Uganda 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-15).
They also spanked Morocco 3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 25-14) and beat Lesotho 3-0 (25-05, 25-08, 25-13) to maintain unbeaten run in the tournament.
They proceeded to the quarter finals stage and walloped Nigeria on Tuesday 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-11) to advance to semifinals.
Kenya finished their group stage in pool B with five wins and 15 points, while Cameroon in their group stage pool A, won four and lost one match with 12 points.
Kenya will now face Egpyt in the final on Thursday, while Cameroon will square up with Rwanda for the third place match on Thursday.
Other results from the semifinals stage; Egpyt beat Rwanda 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-10) to set a final berth with Kenya.
Rwanda will face Cameroon in third place match.
In ther results from the best losers match, Algeria beat Uganda 3-0 to play Nigeria in fifth place match on Thursday.
Nigeria beat Morocco 3-0 to face Algeria in fifth place match on Thursday.
While Uganda will face Morocco for the seventh place match on Thursday.
The current ranking places the following countries respectively – Mali is placed ninth, Burkina Faso tenth , Burundi 11th and Lesotho, 12th.
The 2023 Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championships, which started on Wednesday, ends on Aug. 29.
Twelve teams are participating – Nigeria Cameroon (host), Burundi, Mali, Algeria, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda,
Burkina Faso, Uganda, Lesotho and Egypt.
