Its do-or-die for Kenya after Nigeria loss

It is make or break for Kenya Under-20 volleyball team in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship in Kasarani Indoor Arena when they face Cameroon on Thursday in the final preliminary tie after losing against spirited Nigeria in the second Pool A match.

The Malkia Junior Strikers went down by 3-1 sets against the latter in a ground breaking fixture on Wednesday evening with the loss now putting the Kenya’s qualification to the semi finals in jeopardy.

The Paul Gitau coached side now tie at three points with Nigeria and they must beat the already qualified Cameroon in the final preliminary match and hope the former loses to winless Tanzania.

The junior strikers won the first set by 25-19 but their opponents cancelled the lead with a tight 26-24 second set win to make it 1-1.

In the third set the West Africans stunned the hosts winning by a bigger margin of 25-18 to claim the lead with 2-1 with the latter clinching the third set with 25-23 to deny Kenya a chance to join Cameroon in the last four.

Nigeria who lost their opening match against Cameroon will hope the latter wins against Kenya and they win against Tanzania to make it. Cameroon was the first side in that Pool to qualify after winning their two matches against the former and Tanzania in straight sets.

If they qualify, Gitau will prepare his top guns ahead of their crunch last four meeting against defending champions Egypt who lead in five sided Pool B after winning three consecutive matches.

Rwanda sailed through as the Pool B runners up after edging Uganda in straight sets on Wednesday afternoon .The win was their second after losing against Egypt in the opening day before subsequently trouncing Mauritius.

Ambitious Egypt who have won the title since 2002, were scheduled to confront Mauritius on Wednesday evening.

The week-long event which is also being used as the next year’s World Championship qualifier for the same age bracket set for Japan will serve out on Sunday. Only winners of the tourney will fly Africa’s flag in the next year’s global fiesta.

Summarized Day Four Results

Group B

1400hrs: Rwanda-Uganda (3-0)

Group A

1600hrs: Nigeria-Kenya (3-1)

Tags:

Under-20

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