Malkia Strikers aim to preserve perfect record against Lesotho at African Nations Championships

© Malkia Strikers

VOLLEYBALL Malkia Strikers aim to preserve perfect record against Lesotho at African Nations Championships

Joel Omotto 09:16 - 20.08.2023

The Kenyan queens have so far cast aside their first four rivals and can add the Southern Africans to their list of casualties on Sunday

Malkia Strikers will be hoping for a perfect end to their group stage campaign when they tackle Lesotho at the African Nations Volleyball Championships in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Sunday.

Kenya have so far had an unblemished run at the continental event following wins against Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Morocco and Lesotho should offer little resistance for Luizomar de Moura’s side.

Malkia Strikers won their fourth straight match after defeating Morocco 3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 25-14) on Saturday, having beaten Rwanda, Burkina Faso and Uganda by straight-sets.

They had thrashed a hard-fighting Uganda 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-14) on Friday, the win coming after a 25-10, 25-09, 25-10 win against Burkina Faso, having started the campaign with a 25-16, 25-20 and 25-17 triumph over Rwanda.

However, the Moroccans run them close, especially in the second and third sets, which should be a wake-up call heading into the knockout round where more tough tests await.

The Lesotho match might see De Moura field some of his fringe players while giving a rest to the regulars ahead of the gruelling knockout phase.

This year’s competition has more importance as it will also act as the Olympics qualifier with ranking points at stake as only the top ranked African team by June next year set to seal the ticket to the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, France.

While they are the record champions with nine, Kenya’s last title arrived eight years ago and it is that long wait that head coach De Moura is seeking to end.

Kenya have had to watch Cameroon claim the last three titles but they hope to change the tide this year even if the Indomitable Lionesses are playing at home.

Malkia strikers are also bidding to make it to the Olympics for the second straight time after featuring at the delayed 2020 edition in Tokyo, Japan.