Kenya has been handed the keys to one of Africa’s most anticipated sporting festivals: the 2026 African Women’s Nations Volleyball Championship.
The African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) confirmed Nairobi will stage the tournament from August 23 to September 5, 2026, turning the city into the continent’s volleyball capital for two thrilling weeks.
A 16-Team Showdown and What’s at Stake
Sixteen national teams will converge in Nairobi, each having earned its place through zonal qualification and CAVB rankings.
The field will include the host nation, Kenya, the top nine registered teams determined by the CAVB standings from the 2023 African Nations Championships, and the zonal champions, with the final roster to be ratified by the CAVB Board of Administration.
Beyond continental bragging rights, this championship carries enormous weight: it is a direct pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Poland, raising the stakes and the intensity of every match.
Malkia Strikers Aim to Extend Their Reign
All eyes will be on the Malkia Strikers, Kenya’s decorated women’s side, who arrive under coach Geoffrey Omondi with a legacy to defend.
Fresh momentum flows from the country’s youth ranks — the Junior Malkia Strikers captured the U20 African title in 2025 — and the senior squad will be determined to translate that promise into more silverware and another chapter in their record-breaking history.
Wafalme Stars Ready for Kinshasa Battle
On the men’s front, the Kenya Volleyball Federation has confirmed the Wafalme Stars will contest the 2026 Men’s African Senior Nations Volleyball Championship in Kinshasa, DR Congo, from 7 to 21 September 2026.
The tournament promises a fierce contest across all six continental zones, with a record 27 teams entered — a clear sign of volleyball’s rapid growth across Africa.
KVF says the Wafalme Stars’ technical bench has already begun early preparations and monitoring as the squad gears up to face the continent’s elite.
Confirmed Teams by Zone
Zone 1: Algeria; Libya; Morocco; Tunisia
Zone 2: Cape Verde; Gambia; Guinea; Mali; Senegal
Zone 3: Benin; Burkina Faso; Côte d’Ivoire; Ghana
Zone 4: Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo; DR Congo (Hosts)
Zone 5: Kenya; Burundi; Egypt; Ethiopia; Rwanda; South Sudan; Uganda
Zone 6: Angola; Zimbabwe
As Nairobi and Kinshasa prepare to host Africa’s volleyball elite, the calendar is set for high-octane rallies, rising stars, and continental drama that will shape the road to global tournaments.
