Abuja, Nigeria – 8 April 2025 | Al Ahly secured their spot in the semifinals of the 2025 African Women’s Volleyball Club Championship with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Kenya Prisons. The Egyptian side, known for its strength and experience, took control early, winning the first two sets 25-12 and 25-20, with dominant serving and blocking.
Kenya Prisons, however, showed their resilience in the third set, improving their reception and defence to win 25-22, keeping their hopes alive. The fourth set was a thrilling battle, with multiple lead changes and Kenya Prisons saving several match points. But Al Ahly held their composure, clinching a 27-25 win to secure the match and advance to the semifinals.
Coach Barasa’s Reaction After the Match
In a phone call to Afrosports following the match, Kenya Prisons head coach Josp Barasa shared his thoughts on the game. “We started poorly, especially in the first set, where we struggled with reception,” Barasa reflected. “We were completely caught off guard and didn’t manage to get a foothold in the game. However, we picked up our game in the second set, and the third set was an improvement, but we just couldn’t keep the momentum going.”
Looking back at the final set, Barasa added, “In the fourth set, once again, reception let us down. We fought hard, but we couldn’t recover from the pressure. The set was intense, and we saved several match points, but in the end, Al Ahly’s experience saw them through.”
Despite the loss, Barasa remained optimistic. “We’ll now focus on the classification matches for positions 5-8. I believe we can put in a much stronger performance there, and we’ll work hard to improve our reception and overall play. I have confidence in my players, and we’ll bounce back.”
As Al Ahly advances to the semifinals, Kenya Prisons will now focus on the upcoming classification matches, aiming to finish strong and continue building on their promising performance.
