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 August 25, 2026. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
The contrast between the brilliance on court and the shambles in the boardroom could not have been starker.
As the 2026 Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Women’s Nations Championship got underway at the Kasarani Indoor Arena and Ulinzi Sports Complex on Tuesday, administrative chaos cast a dark shadow on the championship.
Africa’s premier women’s tournament flickered to life with an opening ceremony so low-key and devoid of imagination that it felt more like an afterthought than the launch of a continental showpiece.
At a time when modern sports administration prioritises strategic precision, commercial viability and athlete welfare, CAVB proved that it is still stuck in outdated practices.
They have so far demonstrated a shocking lack of seriousness for a tournament carrying direct qualification stakes for the 2027 FIVB World Championship and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
For a start, CAVB contacted the tournament draw a mere hours before the opening matches. Compounding the absurdity was their inability to release all the fixtures opting to share a day’s games hours to the start.