Malkia Strikers return to action against Mali as quarter-final race intensifies

Kenya’s Malkia Strikers return to the court on Thursday as they face Mali in their second match of the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

The hosts had a bye on Wednesday after opening their campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over Zambia and will now be looking to maintain that momentum as the race for places in the quarter-finals gathers pace.

Kenya made a strong start against Zambia, although head coach Geoffrey Omondi used the opening stages of the match to give some of his fringe players an opportunity. He later introduced several of his more established players towards the end of the second set as Malkia Strikers took control of the contest.

Omondi could again use the Mali fixture to rotate his squad, particularly with the tournament entering a demanding stage and Kenya expected to challenge for a deep run on home soil.

Mali arrive in the contest looking to recover from defeat in their opening outing. After receiving a bye on the first matchday, the West Africans faced Zambia on Tuesday, August 26, at the Ulinzi Indoor Arena, where they went down 3-1.

That result leaves Mali under pressure to respond, while Kenya have an opportunity to strengthen their position in the group and move closer to securing a place in the knockout rounds.

On paper, Malkia Strikers will start as favourites, especially after their convincing performance against Zambia. However, Kenya will be wary of complacency, with Mali having little to lose after their opening defeat and needing a positive result to revive their campaign.

The stakes extend beyond the continental title. The championship also carries significant importance for teams targeting qualification opportunities linked to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the World Championship, giving every group-stage match added significance.

Elsewhere, the day’s action begins at the Kasarani Indoor Arena at 10:00 am, where Uganda face Egypt in an East African versus North African contest.

At the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Burundi take on Zambia from 11:00 am. Zambia, despite their opening defeat to Kenya, have begun attracting support from local fans during the championship.

The Lang’ata-based venue will then host Algeria against DR Congo at 2:00 pm before Ghana face Tunisia at 5:00 pm.

Back at Kasarani, Senegal meet Burundi at 1:00 pm, while Cameroon and Nigeria renew their West African rivalry from 4:00 pm.

For Kenya, however, the focus will firmly be on Mali. After making a statement in their opening match, Malkia Strikers now have the chance to build momentum in front of their home supporters and take another step towards the quarter-finals as the battle for Africa’s biggest volleyball prize continues.