Kenya and Algeria renew rivalry in women’s volleyball championship

• The two sides have met three times in the final of the Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship.
• Algeria have never beaten Kenya since returning to the championship in 2003 when it was held in Nairobi.

Kenya will renew rivalry with Algeria in the Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship quarter-final on Tuesday evening at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Indoor Arena.

Kenya, christened ‘Malkia Strikers’, brushed aside Nigeria 3-0 in sets of 25-21, 25-17 and 25-15 on Sunday evening in the round of 16 stage at the same venue to book a quarter-final date with Algeria’s Fennecs.

For their part, former champions Algeria outclassed Senegal in three straight sets of 25-15, 25-17, and 25-16 to reach the quarter-finals.

Ahead of the match, Kenya’s captain Meldina Sande and coach Geoffrey Omondi have urged the players to seal loopholes that may cost them victory in the match.

Noting that they need to improve in ball reception and movement on the court, captain Sande has urged her teammates to concentrate in the match to the last minute.

“We need to work on ball accuracy and court movement in the coming matches. Our serves have not been on target, and we must adjust, knowing things will get more competitive going forward,” she said.

Omondi kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the match against Algeria. 

“Walls have ears. We know where we will get them. They are a fast side compared to Nigeria, which fits well with our systems,” Omondi explained.

Malkia Strikers have historically dominated North Africans in past meetings, both in continental championships, at the African Games, and at the African qualifiers for the Olympic Games and FIVB World Cup.

The two sides have met three times in the final of the Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship, in 2007, 2011 and 2015. All three meetings took place in Nairobi, with the home team triumphing.

The two teams first clashed in the final of the 2007 African Nations Volleyball Championship, and Malkia Strikers prevailed 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-22). Earlier, Kenya had beaten Algeria 25-22,25- 20, 25-15 in the pool stage.

They again met in the 2011 and 2015 competitions, and Kenya again triumphed 3-1 (25-10, 17-25, 25021, 25-13) and 3-0 (25-17, 25- 21, 25- 20), respectively.

Algeria took part in the first three editions of the continental event - in 1976, 1985 and 1987- when they finished fourth, then skipped the championship till 2003.

Kenya first competed in the championship for the first time in 1989 when it was held in Port Louis in Mauritius. Egypt beat the hosts to win the title.

Algeria have never beaten Kenya since returning to the championship in 2003 when it was held in Nairobi. That year, the North Africans lost 3-1 sets to Cameroon in the third-place play-off match. Kenya lost 3-1 sets to Egypt in the final.

Kenya dominated the 2007 tournament held in Nairobi but skipped the 2009 edition in Blida, Algeria, where the hosts beat three-time champions Tunisia 3-0 to claim their first and last continental title.

The last meeting between Kenya and Algeria came in the pool stage of the 2019 championship in Cairo. Kenya won 3-0 but lost 3-2 to Cameroon in the final. Kenya lost to Algeria in the African qualifiers for the 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London) Olympic Games.

On Sunday, opposite hitter Malyne Terry Tata and middle blocker Elizabeth Sokoiyo starred for Kenya against Nigeria with 14 points each. Tata made 11 attacks and Sokoiyo eight.

Algeria’s middle blocker Amira Rahmani and outside hitter Yasmine Abderrahim, who led the team’s assault against Senegal, are some of the players to watch out for.

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