KENYA: VOLLEYBALL - Kenyans defeat Algeria to take Africa Volleyball Championships

Record ID: 360749

  • Title: KENYA: VOLLEYBALL - Kenyans defeat Algeria to take Africa Volleyball Championships
  • Date: 25th August 2011
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya, Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5KG1XEJ6C0IVF61J0CRJNYVQB
  • Story Text: Kenya women's volleyball team survived a second set scare from Algeria to win the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday (August 24) in Nairobi, Kenya.
    The hosts who had earlier whitewashed Senegal 3-0 in the semi-final reclaimed the African Volleyball title for the seventh time after beating Algeria 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-21,25-13) at the Africa Nazarene University to book a ticket to the FIVB World Cup which will be held in Japan later this year.
    "I feel so happy because it was a tough match and they always win - sometimes win. I'm so happy," said Jane Wacu, a Kenyan setter.
    The tournament attracted nine top African teams including defending champions Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Botswana, Rwanda, Tunisia, Nigeria and hosts Kenya.
    Algeria lifted the trophy in 2009 in Kenya's absence after the East African nations failed to qualify.
    On their way to the final, Kenya beat Nigeria, Egypt and Cameroon to top their pool before seeing off Senegal and finally taking the cup at the expense of reigning champions Algeria.
    "We really planned for them, we spent the whole morning watching their videos and planning for this match and I'm just happy because everything that we said to them (Kenya team) they did exactly that and it came out fantastic," said David Lung'aho, Kenya's Coach Earlier on, Egypt beat Senegal 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 24-26 15-8) to take the third position. The Senegalese were plucky and lost many balls from poor service although Fatou Diouck who was voted player of the tournament steered them to win the second and fourth sets (25-21, 26-24) before the Egyptians replied by taking the third and fifth sets (25-21, 15-8).
    Senegal finished fourth with Cameroon, Tunisia, Botswana and Nigeria coming in fifth to eighth in that order.
    Africa's performance on the big stage has been poor in past competitions with the highest ranked team being Algeria at 15th place.
    Insiders like the President of Confederation of African Women's Volleyball, Aarab Touria say that more investment needs to be put into the sport to make it more popular on the continent.
    "Africa can be like other continents like Europe, America; we can be because in Africa there is more human resource and power. We have motivation and we can be more better than now but we have to keep the ball flying and Africa we can," said Touria.
    The FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup will be held from November 4-18 and will see the top three teams qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
    A total of 12 teams will take part in the contest, all of which will have qualified for the tournament through their respective continental competitions.
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