Malkia Strikers' Milka Akinyi and Lorine Kaei try to block Zambia's Isabel Mudenda during the CAVB Women's African Nations Volleyball Championship tie at the Moi International Sports Centre Indoor Arena on Tuesday. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Kenya’s Malkia Strikers face their first major test at the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship when they take on Nigeria in a Round of 16 clash at the Kasarani Indoor Arena today.
For the Malkia Strikers, victory will secure a place in the quarter-finals, while defeat will bring their campaign to an abrupt end.
Kenya’s perfect group-stage record has raised expectations around the team, but the knockout format presents a different challenge, with every point carrying greater significance.
The Kenyan women’s national team enters the knockout stage in impressive form after winning both their Group A matches against Zambia and Mali without dropping a single set.
The results earned Kenya six points and saw the team finish top of the pool, setting up a potentially high-pressure encounter against Nigeria.
Nigeria reached the Round of 16 after finishing fourth in Group C with one victory and two defeats.