- Malkia Strikers and Cameroon have shared every single African crown since 2009.
- Malkia Strikers enter the semi after dropping their first set of the tournament in a 3-1 quarter-final win over Algeria, while Cameroon boasts a flawless record with nine consecutive set victories.
- Kenya has won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, with the winner earning a spot in Friday’s final and a giant step toward LA 2028 Olympic qualification.
Malkia Strikers will renew their rivalry with West African giants Cameroon when they face off in the second semi-final matchup at the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship on Thursday at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi.
The record continental champions are chasing a record-extending 11th title as they seek to build on their last African championship victory achieved in 2023 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Together, Kenya and Cameroon stand as the absolute rulers of African women’s volleyball, combining for 13 of the 21 total titles across the 50-year history of the tournament.
The two nations have shared every single continental crown for the last 17 years, with the last nation outside this dominant duopoly to lift the trophy being Algeria back in 2009, when they defeated Tunisia 3-0 on home soil in Blida.
Malkia Strikers and Cameroon qualification
The Geoffrey Omondi-coached squad punched their ticket to the last four after overcoming a stubborn Algerian side in a 3-1 quarter-final victory, dropping their first set of the competition before responding with set scores of 21-25, 25-7, 25-15, and 25-18.
Cameroon on the other hand earned their semi-final ticket after completely dismantling Uganda with a 3-0 straight-sets sweep (25-18, 25-20, 25-18) in their quarter-final fixture.
The Indomitable Lionesses, who bypassed the Round of 16 entirely after earning a direct sporting bye as the overall top-seeded group stage winner, enter the semi-finals holding a perfectly clean sheet in the tournament having won nine consecutive sets without dropping a single one.
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Malkia Strikers vs Cameroon H2H and key stats
Kenya holds a favorable recent head-to-head record against their arch-rivals, winning four of their last five encounters across major competitions.
The Malkia Strikers secured a 3-1 semi-final victory at the 2023 African Championship in Yaoundé, a 3-0 victory at the 2022 FIVB World Championship, and a 3-2 win during the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers.
Cameroon’s last major wins over Kenya came in the 2021 African Championship, where they defeated the Malkia Strikers in both the pool stage and the final.
That 2021 triumph capped a historic three-peat for Cameroon, who won three consecutive titles in 2017, 2019, and 2021 by defeating Kenya in all three finals.
Cameroon first broke Kenya’s dominance on home soil in 2017, ending a three-tournament streak Kenya had held since 2011. However, Cameroon’s ambitions for a fourth consecutive title were shattered during the 2023 championship when Kenya exacted revenge on Cameroonian soil before reclaiming the crown.
If the Malkia Strikers defeat Cameroon tonight, they will advance to Friday’s grand finale to play for the continental trophy and a direct qualification ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Their final opponent will emerge from Thursday’s first semi-final clash between Egypt and Rwanda, where the Pharaohs will also be eyeing an opportunity to break the 17-year Kenya-Cameroon reign should the Malkia Strikers slip up.
CAVB Women’s African Championship Semi-Final Draw
Egypt vs Rwanda – 4 PM
Kenya vs Cameroon -7 PP