Kenya's Malkia Strikers are the new African champions after beating Egypt in straight sets in the Women's African Volleyball Championship has been ongoing in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The Kenyan queens clinched the coveted trophy in straight sets of 25-22, 25-20, 25-14. It's their 10th continental title.
The win has earned them a qualification in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship as the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) representatives.
They have also automatically qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Back home, congratulations came in quick and fast following the third strait triumphant victory by the Strikers.
"Congratulations to our national volleyball team, Malkia Strikers! By finishing first in a spectacular 3-0 win against Egypt and claiming your tenth Continental Title," Defence CS Aden Duale said.
"You have made the country proud at the just concluded finals of the 2023 CAVB Women's African Nations Volleyball Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Best of luck as you prepare and practice to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics," he added.
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba also lauded the queens for the impressive showing at the games.
"Hongera Malkia Strikers, our superb national women volleyball team, for emphatically winning the African Nations Championship in Cameroon with a 3-0 victory over Egypt 25-22 25-20 25-14, thus qualifying for the Paris Olympics next summer. You have made Kenyans proud," he said.
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen said, "Queens of Africa: Congratulations Malkia Strikers on your emphatic win against Egypt, your crowning as the African Champions and deserved qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympics. You've made Kenya proud."
Prior to the final, President William Ruto had congratulated the team for qualifying for the finals and urged them to go a notch higher and ensure they clinch the continental title.
"Finish the job against Egypt in the final tonight and come home as Queens of Africa. Kenya will be watching and cheering," the President said.
The journey
Kenya was pooled in Group B alongside Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Lesotho.
On their way to the finals, Malkia Strikers beat Rwanda 3-0 in their opening game on August 16.
They repeated the feat by trouncing Uganda by the same margin on August 18 and beat Morocco 3-1 on August 19 before going ham on Lesotho with another 3-0 straight-set win on August 20.
On Wednesday, the home girls beat hosts Cameroon 3-1 in the semis to book the assignment against the Egyptians at a fully packed Palais Polyvalent des Sports arena in the capital Yaounde.
It followed Tuesday's 3-0 quarter final victory over Nigeria (25-14, 25-17, 25-11) in which Veronica Adhiambo was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP), a feat that was replicated by Sharon Chepchumba Kiprono in the match against Cameroon.
Prior to Thursday's win, Malkia Strikers had last won the Nations Championship in 2015 when Kenya hosted the tournament.
The home girls then lost the crown to Cameroon in Yaounde (2017), Cairo (2019) and Kigali (2021).
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