Egypt subject Malkia Strikers to second defeat in Africa Games qualifiers

Coach Japheth Munala's charges, Malkia Strikers, had nothing on their Egyptian hosts in Game Two of the ongoing CAVB African Games Zone Five qualifiers as they went down 3-1.

As if reading from day one script, the Egyptian side won the first set, allowing Kenya to level matters before picking the next two for 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20.

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Both teams have qualified for the 13th African Games set to be held in Ghana from 8 and 23 March. 

Malkia recovered from a slow start in the first set, trailing 6-2, to make it a closely contested clash, leveling the score at 9. However, the hosts raced to a 15-11 lead and further at 16-12 leaving Munala's charges with a mountain to climb in a comeback attempt.

The difference remained at 17-13 forcing Munala into a timeout as the African queens looked to correct their errors that had handed Egypt easy points so far. Little, however, changed as lost the set by two points.

Kenya had a better start in the second set going ahead 5-1 and remained ahead, despite an Egypt that saw them level the scores at 10 points and again at 13. Egypt kept the chase going, but Malkia held on for 25-23. 

For the next two sets, Malkia were a pale shadow of their second set selves, making costly mistakes against a resilient Egypt to lose 25-19 and 25-20.

With the loss, the Kenyan side head to Ghana as the second-best team from the zone. The African champions will, however, hope for a better outing at the continental stage as they look to defend the title they won in 2019.