The Junior Malkia Strikers, Kenya’s national Under-20 women’s volleyball team, delivered a stellar performance on Monday night to clinch the African Championships title, defeating hosts Cameroon in Yaoundé.
Already buoyed by their qualification for the upcoming World Championships in Surabaya, Indonesia, the Kenyan side came into the final with added motivation.
They were out for revenge, having fallen to the Cameroonians in a preliminary round clash at the same venue just a week earlier.
Jackline Barasa’s team set the tone early, edging a tight first set 26-24 to reignite their campaign. Cameroon, however, responded strongly, taking the second set 25-19 to level the match.
But the Junior Malkia Strikers regrouped with composure and tactical precision, edging a nail-biting third set 28-26 to regain the upper hand.
The momentum firmly swung Kenya’s way in the fourth, where they dominated the hosts 25-16 to seal a memorable victory and continental glory.