Egypt reclaims Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship title …

Twenty-three years after their last title, Egypt are once again Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship winners. And the statistics from the final also tell the story of how the Egyptians built their victory: a huge advantage in blocking and an ability to capitalize on the numerous Kenyan errors.

On Friday at the Kasarani Arena in Nairobi, Egypt dominated Kenya 3 sets to 0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-15) in the final of the 2026 Women’s African Nations Championship. The match lasted 1 hour and 12 minutes , with sets of 28, 21 and 23 minutes. raccoongame.org

This victory allows Egypt to clinch its fourth continental title , after those of 1976, 1989 and 2003. Above all, this triumph gives it the direct African ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games .

The first set was for resistance, the next two for knockout

In a Kasarani Arena packed with Malkia Strikers fans, Egypt first had to contain Kenyan pressure.

The first set, lasting 28 minutes, was the most closely contested. Kenya stayed within striking distance, but Egypt managed the final exchanges better to win 25-22 .

The complexion of the match then changed radically.

Stronger and, above all, cleaner in their play, the Egyptians widened the gap in the second set, winning it 25-15 . Kenya, until then almost untouchable in the competition, could not find an answer.

The third set ended with the same score: 25-15 . The match was over in 1 hour and 12 minutes.

The Egyptian counter-attack turns the tide of the final

Surprisingly, Kenya finished the game with 35 points on offense compared to Egypt’s 34. But this slight lead masks the true difference between the two teams.

Egypt scored 11 runs on the block , compared to just one for Kenya . A considerable difference of ten points in a game played over three sets.

The Kenyans also committed many more offensive fouls: 20 fouls in attack compared to only 6 for Egypt .

In serving, the African champions again took the advantage with 4 aces to 2 .

But the most significant statistic for Kenya is probably the number of errors they’ve given their opponents. Egypt benefited from 26 points due to opponent fouls, compared to just 14 for Kenya.

In total, the scoreboard reflects this difference in control: 75 points to 52 .

Meawad, top scorer in the final

On an individual level, Meawad was the most prolific player in the match. The Egyptian number 4 finished with 14 points , including 11 in attack, 2 in block and 1 in serve .

Her teammate Meeto followed with 12 points , including 11 attacks and one block.

On the Kenyan side, Adhiambo was the most effective with 11 points : 8 on attack, 1 on block, and 2 on serve. Masai finished with 10 points, all scored on attack.

The collective Egyptian performance is also reflected in the distribution of points. Mr. Ghazal contributed 8 points, including two aces, while Yasso scored 7 points, notably with 3 blocks .

This diversity of solutions complicated Kenya’s task, as they were unable to concentrate their defence on a single attacker.

Kenya falls at the worst possible time

The defeat is brutal for the Malkia Strikers, given how solid their run had been before this final.

Kenya had successively beaten Zambia 3-0, Mali 3-0, Nigeria 3-0, Algeria 3-1 in the quarter-finals and then Cameroon 3-0 in the semi-finals.

The Kenyans therefore entered the final with five wins in five matches and only one set lost.

But against Egypt, the defending champions paid for their mistakes and their inability to impose their power at the net.

An invincible Egypt until the title

The Egyptian leg was even more impressive.

Before the final, Egypt had successively beaten Burkina Faso, Senegal, Uganda, Burundi, Tunisia and Rwanda, always with a score of 3-0 .

Kenya was also unable to take a set from them.

Egypt therefore finishes Nairobi 2026 with seven wins in seven matches and 21 sets won without losing a single one .

The symbolism is all the more powerful given that in 2023, Kenya dominated Egypt 3-0 in the final of the African Championship. Three years later, the Egyptians returned the exact same scoreline to their rivals, this time on Kenyan soil.

Twenty-three years later, Egypt regains its crown

Egypt had waited since 2003 to return to the continental summit.

After her titles in 1976, 1989 and 2003 , she adds a fourth African crown to her record.

But Nairobi offers him even more. With this title, Egypt secured direct continental qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. They had also guaranteed their qualification for the FIVB Women’s World Cup 2027 by reaching the final.

Kenya will also be at the world championships in 2027, while Cameroon, who beat Rwanda 3-0 in the bronze medal match, completes the trio of African qualifiers.

Team statistics from the final

Top scorers and individual statistics

The individual table includes the players and statistics visible on the official sheet provided.

The starting six

KENYA

1. #6 Belinda
2. #7 Emma
3. #10 Jepkorir
4. #11 Masai
5. #24 Tata
6. #2 Adhiambo

EGYPT

1. #10 Doaa
2. #4 Meawad
3. #22 Dalia
4. #13 Yasso
5. #20 Meeto
6. #14 Mr. Ghazal

Final score: Kenya 0-3 Egypt — 22-25, 15-25, 15-25 — 1h12.

SOURCE: CAVB

The post Egypt reclaims Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship title after 23 years – book ticket to 2028 Olympics appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.

The people, passions, and memories that have shaped one of tennis’s most beloved commentators.

After decades in professional tennis – as a player, commentator, and broadcaster – Robbie Koenig has accumulated countless stories.

Some involve Grand Slam champions, while others feature legendary administrators and famous rivals.

But when the conversation turns to old friends, the laughter comes easily.

And no friend seems to provide more material than former doubles partner John-Laffnie de Jager, known simply throughout tennis circles as “JL.”

The Adelaide Story That Never Gets Old

Robbie Koenig and De Jager formed a successful doubles partnership during the late 1990s, sharing victories, setbacks, and countless hours on the road together.

Their friendship has endured long after their playing careers ended, built on a relationship where honesty was always part of the deal.

“We’ve always been straight with each other.”

That honesty was on full display at the start of the 1998 season.

The pair had ended 1997 on a high after reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open from qualifying.

Following the season-ending events, they headed home for the off-season before agreeing to meet again in Adelaide for the start of the new year.

When Koenig arrived and saw De Jager for the first time, he could hardly believe his eyes.

“No lies, he must have put on 15 pounds.”

The South African winter – and apparently plenty of farm cooking back home in Ermelo – had done its work.

Koenig remembers staring in disbelief.

“It was like, ‘This is not the same guy that I finished the season with.'”

The timing made the situation even funnier.

The pair had arrived early in Adelaide but failed to gain entry into qualifying, leaving them with roughly 10 days of uninterrupted training before competition began.

Koenig had already completed his pre-season preparation.

Now he found himself doing another mini pre-season alongside his partner.

“We basically spent 10 days training.”

The good news for De Jager?

Much of the extra weight quickly disappeared.

“He probably lost half of that in 10 days.”

Nearly three decades later, Koenig still laughs when telling the story.

His closing verdict remains simple:

“Get in shape, Fool!”

Why Their Friendship Endured

The Adelaide story reflects something deeper about the friendship between the two South Africans.

Neither was afraid to tell the other exactly what they thought.

If one was out of line, the other would say so.

That mutual honesty created trust and respect that lasted well beyond their playing careers.

According to Robbie Koenig, it is one of the main reasons they’ve remained such close friends.

Not even JL’s reputation as a practical joker could undermine that bond.

“He was a big prankster.”

Fortunately for Koenig, he claims he usually saw the tricks coming.

“The Durbanite was too quick for that Ermelo farmer boy.”

Life Beyond Tennis

Away from commentary boxes and tennis courts, Koenig’s greatest passions are surprisingly simple.

Fly fishing. And golf.

If forced to choose between them?

“Fly fishing just clips it. Fifty-one percent to forty-nine.”

The attraction isn’t necessarily about catching fish. It’s about the places fishing takes him.

“It takes me to the most beautiful places in the world.”

Growing up in South Africa instilled a lifelong love of wildlife, nature, and the outdoors. Fishing allows him to reconnect with that environment while escaping the constant pace of professional sport.

One location stands above all others.

A small fishing town called Last Chance in Idaho.

“If I lived in the States, that would do me just fine.”

Golf, Competition, and One Perfect Shot

Golf satisfies a different need.

Like many former professional athletes, Robbie Koenig still enjoys competing.

His current handicap sits around five, an impressive number for someone whose primary sporting career was spent wielding a tennis racquet rather than a golf club.

Among the many courses he has played, two stand out.

Kingston Heath in Melbourne is his favourite layout. Jack’s Point in Queenstown, New Zealand, is the most scenic.

But perhaps his favourite golfing memory came at Australia’s National Golf Club.

There, on the course’s signature par-three hole, Koenig recorded the only hole-in-one of his life.

Watching the ball bounce, turn and disappear into the cup remains one of the most surreal experiences he has ever had on a golf course.

“When it disappears, it’s the most surreal feeling you’ve ever had.”

A Legacy Built on Enjoyment

For someone who has become one of tennis’s most recognisable voices, Robbie Koenig is remarkably modest about the idea of legacy.

He doesn’t talk about records or influence.

He doesn’t see himself as a figure who needs to be remembered.

Instead, he hopes viewers simply enjoyed the sport a little more because he was there.

“That I made people enjoy the sport they were watching.”

And perhaps that’s the perfect summary of Robbie Koenig’s career.

Whether through sharp tactical insight, infectious enthusiasm, colourful storytelling, or unforgettable phrases, he has spent nearly twenty years helping fans appreciate the game he loves.

As he puts it himself: “I’ve never worked a day in my life.”

For tennis fans around the world, that passion has been obvious every time he picks up the microphone.

PART 1 | EXCLUSIVE | Robbie Koenig: From doubles specialist to the Voice of Tennis

PART 2 | EXCLUSIVE | Calling history: The matches and moments Robbie Koenig will never forget

PART 3 | EXCLUSIVE | The art of Robbie Koenig’s tennis commentary

PART 4 | EXCLUSIVE | Robbie Koenig helps settle tennis’ GOAT debate

Dave Marshall is reporting exclusively from the 2026 US Open in New York for The South African.

At the conclusion of the 2026 Women’s African Volleyball Championship, the African Volleyball Confederation unveiled its All-Tournament Team. As continental champions, Egypt unsurprisingly dominated the individual awards with four players honored.

Mariam Metwally, queen of the competition

Mariam Metwally Mohamed Morsy is the big winner of this selection. The Egyptian received the title of best player of the tournament (MVP), the most prestigious individual award.

Number 20 is also among the two best outside hitters in the competition. This double distinction underscores her influence on Egypt’s victorious run.

Nada Ahmed Houssameldein completes the Egyptian duo on the wing

The second award for best receiver-attacker went to Nada Ahmed Houssameldein. The Egyptian player and Mariam Metwally formed the best duo in the tournament at this position.

The presence of two Egyptians in this category testifies to the effectiveness of the new African champion on the wings.

Elizabeth Sokoyivo and Cecile Nabyong dominate in the counter-attack

Kenya and Cameroon are represented in the center of the net. Kenyan Elizabeth Marian Sokoyivo was named one of the two best middle blockers and blockers in the competition.

She shares this honor with Cameroonian Cecile Laure Nabyong. The number 20 of the Indomitable Lionesses is the only Cameroonian player selected for the team of the year.

Malyne Idachi, best point guard

The award for best opposite hitter was given to Kenyan Malyne Terry Tata Idachi. Number 24 distinguished herself with her offensive efficiency and, along with Elizabeth Sokoyivo, represents Kenya in the individual rankings.

Despite losing the continental title, the host country has two players in the team of the week.

Doaa Abdelghany rewarded for her passing

Doaa Abdelghany was named best passer of the 2026 African Championship. A true organizer of the Egyptian game, the number 10 played a central role in the offensive balance of her team.

This distinction highlights the quality of its distribution and its ability to exploit the various attack solutions at its disposal.

Nada Essa, best libero

The award for best libero also goes to Egypt. Nada Essa completes the strong Egyptian representation in the team of the year.

Through her work in reception and defense, the number 2 contributed to the collective stability of the African champion team.

The best XI of the 2026 Women’s African Championship

SOURCE: CAVB

The post The 2026 Women’s African Volleyball Championship Dream Team appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.

Kaizer Chiefs forward Etiosa Ighodaro is determined to put a frustrating injury-hit campaign behind him and make his mark this season.

Ighodaro joined the club last season from rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, but was limited to seven appearances across all competitions due to his injury setbacks.

The 25-year-old has been ever-present in this squad this campaign and has only missed two matches in all competitions.

After limited game time last term, Ighodaro says a productive pre-season has helped rebuild his confidence as he looks to deliver his best for the club and its supporters.

“Last season was quite frustrating for me because of injuries,” Ighodaro told his club’s official website.

“But that is behind me now and I am looking forward to a great season. Hopefully, you’ll see the best of me. I am pushing myself hard to make the Club and the supporters proud.

“I really benefitted from pre-season because I didn’t play a lot last season so I needed the minutes in the practice games to build my confidence.”

The post Ighodaro Targets Strong Comeback Season at Chiefs appeared first on SportsClub.