By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Host and defending champions Kenya ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 CAVB Women’s Africa Nations Championship with a commanding 3-0 victory in their Round of 16 clash.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, the Kenyans produced a dominant performance to defeat Nigeria 25-21, 25-17, 25-15 and book their place in the last eight of the continental championship.
Nigeria, however, showed great determination in the opening set, pushing the defending champions before Kenya eventually pulled away to claim a 25-21 victory.
The hosts raised their intensity in the second set, taking it 25-17, before sealing the straight-set win with a comfortable 25-15 result in the third.
Despite the defeat, Nigeria’s head coach, Elishama Elam, praised his youthful side for their spirited performance against one of Africa’s strongest volleyball nations.
“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 insisted the experience gained from the tournament would be crucial for a team 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 identified service errors as a major factor that affected Nigeria’s chances, particularly in the 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 title hopes now over, Nigeria will shift attention to the classification matches, where Elam is targeting a strong finish.
“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.
Nigeria will now look to regroup quickly and finish the championship on a positive note, while Kenya continue their quest to successfully defend their continental crown.
