S. OchiengCameroon too good for Malkia Strikers in group opener
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 12.09.21. | 19:28
The 2019 champions defeated Malkia Strikers 3-0
Paul Bitok’s Malkia Strikers were shown the task at hand if they are to bag a record extending tenth title at the CAVB Women’s Africa Nations Cup as they were outclassed in a straight sets defeat by an impressive Cameroon when the two team’s met in their opening Group B match played at the Kigali Arena on Sunday evening.
With the team having not had any friendly matches going into the competition, 2019 championship winners Cameroon faced no difficulty on their way to the 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 win over the nine time record champions Kenya.
2021 Women’s African Nations Championship- Day 1
— CAVB (@CAVBPress) September 12, 2021
Match 3 Cameroon 🇨🇲 v Kenya 🇰🇪 Pool B 3-0
Set 1: 25-20
Set 2: 25-21
Set 3: 25-19
The better team Cameroon achieve a respected straight sets victory pic.twitter.com/CXwlLrzn3W
Coming into the match, Malkia Strikers were hoping to get a third consecutive win against the opponents of the day as they had enjoyed two victories in their last two clashes against Cameroon, one in the African Games in Morocco and the other during the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers.
After early moments of sizing each other in the opening proceedings, Cameroon threatened to forge ahead but Malkia did well in regain the slight deficit. The Cameroonians however pulled ahead as they took a 16-12 lead by the time Kenya called for a timeout before closing out the set with a 25-20 win.
2021 Women’s African Nations Championship- Day 1
— CAVB (@CAVBPress) September 12, 2021
Match 3 Cameroon 🇨🇲 v Kenya 🇰🇪 Pool B 1-0
Set 1: 25-20
Cameroon hammered their compatriots to win the first set pic.twitter.com/wbmhcyvNqv
With momentum and tempo on their side, Cameroon picked up the intensity where they had left it at in the second set as they displayed good defense and took advantage of Kenya’s slow start, racing to a 7-2 early lead.
An inspired team talk from Paul Bitok after a timeout, swung momentum in favour of Malkia Strikers who momentarily drew the game at 12-12 from which a close affair ensued. Soon afterwards, just as they did in the first set, the Cameroon ladies asserted their dominance as they fended off challenge from the Kenyan ladies to take the second set 25-21.
Despite Kenya starting the third set with intent and even taking a lead for a first time in a set, Cameroon gradually came back charging as they overturned the scores to take a 10-7 lead. From then on, there was no looking back for the Cameroonians who went on to see out the game and win the match in straight sets victory.
