Host nation and defending champions Kenya have ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 CAVB Women’s Africa Nations Championship after recording a commanding 3-0 victory in their Round of 16 encounter.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, Kenya produced a dominant performance to defeat the Nigerian side 25-21, 25-17, 25-15 and secure their place in the last eight of the continental championship.
Nigeria, however, did not make the victory easy for the defending champions, particularly in the opening set, where the youthful West African side matched Kenya for long periods before eventually falling 25-21.
The hosts raised their game in the second set to claim a 25-17 win before completing the straight-set victory with a 25-15 triumph in the third set.
Despite Nigeria’s elimination from the title race, head coach Elishama Elam praised his players for their fighting spirit and their ability to challenge the defending champions.
“We gave a good fight. They really played what they deserved. We gave the Kenyans a run for their money. It was not just a pushover match. It was a good fight,” Elam said.
The Nigerian coach said the match would provide valuable experience for his young team, which is currently undergoing a rebuilding process.
“Being a young team that we are trying to build, by the next time we meet, I think the story will not be like this,” he added.
Elam, however, pointed to Nigeria’s service errors as a major factor in the outcome of the closely contested opening set.
“If you look at the first set that we lost to the Kenyans 25-21, there were eight service errors. If we had converted only four of them, you can see that the scoreline would have been different,” he explained.
With their hopes of winning the championship now over, Nigeria will shift attention to the classification matches, where Elam hopes the team can finish the tournament among the top 10 sides.
“We are going to prepare for the classification match now. We hope to finish in the ninth or 10th position, by the special grace of God,” the coach said.
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Meanwhile, Algeria booked their place in the quarter-finals after sweeping past Senegal in straight sets, winning 25-15, 25-17 and 25-16.
Uganda also advanced to the last eight following a 3-0 victory over DR Congo, winning 25-16, 27-25, 25-18.
Four more Round of 16 fixtures are scheduled for Sunday, with Rwanda facing Burkina Faso, Zambia taking on Ghana and Egypt battling Burundi. Tunisia and Mali will conclude the day’s Round of 16 programme.
While Kenya continue their quest to retain the continental title, Nigeria will now focus on regrouping for the classification phase, with Elam hoping his young squad can finish the championship on a positive note and gain valuable experience for future international competitions.
