Malkia Strikers beat Morocco to make it four straight wins at African Nations Championships

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VOLLEYBALL Malkia Strikers beat Morocco to make it four straight wins at African Nations Championships

Joel Omotto 20:55 - 19.08.2023

Kenya maintained their top spot in Group B following the hard-fought victory against the North Africans.

Malkia Strikers won their fourth straight match at the African Nations Volleyball Championships after defeating Morocco 3-1 in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Saturday.

Kenya claimed the first two sets 25-16 and 25-23 before losing the third 22-25 but recovered to claim the fourth 25-14.

It was the first time Kenya had dropped a set at the continental event having beaten Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and Uganda by straight sets, a run that Luizomar de Moura was hoping to maintain.

However, the Moroccans run them close, especially in the second and third sets when they threatened to spoil their party but the African queens withstood the pressure to get out with a win.

Kenya remain top of Group B ahead of Sunday’s final group encounter against Lesotho which coach De Moura might use to field some of his fringe players while giving a rest to the regulars ahead of the grueling next round.

Malkia Strikers 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.

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 is 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.