Yaoundé, Cameroon | Kenya’s Under-20 women’s volleyball team is ready to face hosts Cameroon in the final of the 2025 African Nations Volleyball Championship on Monday evening in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This will be a rematch of their preliminary game earlier on Tuesday, August 5, where Kenya lost 3-1 to Cameroon.
The Junior Malkia Strikers booked their spot in the final on Sunday after beating Egypt in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-23) in the semifinals. This win secured Kenya, a place at next year’s 2026 FIVB World Championship, as the top three teams in the tournament qualify for the global event.
Despite the earlier defeat, the Junior Malkia Strikers showed great resilience, especially with captain Terry Tata Idachi, who played through an ankle injury to help Kenya secure a win over Egypt. The team and fans now wish her a swift recovery ahead of the final.
Meanwhile, Cameroon dominated Senegal 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-11) in the other semifinal to set up a thrilling final against Kenya. Earlier on Sunday, Uganda defeated Burundi 3-1 (25-13, 25-14, 25-18, 25-23) in the classification match for fifth place.
Kenya’s journey through the tournament has been impressive, highlighted by strong performances from Captain Terry Tata, who was named Player of the Match in the semifinal. Kenya had beaten Egypt 3-1 in the preliminary round and maintained their dominance in the rematch.
Kenya’s road to the final has earned praise from top officials. Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya congratulated the team, saying, “Your hard work and determination have made the nation proud. We stand behind you as you fight for the continental title — go for gold!”
Kenya Volleyball Federation President Charles Nyaberi congratulated the team, saying, “Congratulations to the Junior Malkias for blanking Egypt 3-0 to romp into the finals and assure themselves of a slot in the Under-20 World Championships! Well done, Junior Malkias!”
Deputy President Paul Bitok added his praise, stating, “Congratulations to our U20 Junior Malkia Strikers for an outstanding 3–0 victory over Egypt in the 2025 CAVB U20 semifinals championship. With this win, the team has qualified for the finals and secured a ticket to the 2026 FIVB U20 World Championship. We wish the girls and the technical team well, and we believe in your talent, teamwork, and fighting spirit — bring the trophy home!”
While the Harambee Stars football team has been promised generous rewards by President William Ruto one million shillings for every win and half a million for a draw our Junior Malkia Strikers remain with just their faith and determination to drive them forward.
Despite the lack of financial incentives, these young volleyball stars continue to fight hard and make the nation proud. Their spirit shows that sometimes, true passion and belief in God can be the strongest motivation of all.
Kenya meets Cameroon at 6:00 PM in the final, prepared to challenge the hosts and secure the continental title. The third-place playoff between Egypt and Senegal is set for 3:00 PM, promising an exciting finish to the tournament.
