KCB edge Pipeline to make first African Club Championship final in four years

KCB women's volleyball team will get a chance to win their first Women's African Volleyball Club Championship in four years when they come up against Egyptian side Al Ahly SC in the final on Thursday, 23 April.

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This is after The Bankers secured their place in the final courtesy of a 3-1 sets win over fellow Kenyan side Kenya Pipeline in a tense semifinal in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday evening.

The Japheth Munala-led side overcame a shaky start to triumph by sets of 16-25, 25-10, 25-15, and a decisive fourth set 25-19, sealing their first spot in the championship final since 2022.

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KCB began the match on the back foot, struggling to settle into rhythm as Kenya Pipeline dominated the opening set, taking it 25-16.

However, the team quickly regrouped in the second set, tightening their defence and improving service reception to level the match with a commanding 25-10 win.

The third set saw setter Esther Mutinda rise to the occasion with a standout performance, helping KCB take a crucial 25-15 win and move within touching distance of victory. They eventually closed out the contest in the fourth set to complete the 3-1 turnaround.

Speaking after the match, KCB coach Munala noted: “We did not begin the way we wanted, but the response from the team was outstanding. After the first set, we adjusted tactically, and the players executed the plan very well. This is the mentality we need going into the final.”

KCB raised their intensity in the fourth set, dominating in service, attack, and blocks to outwit their opponents and seal a deserved victory with a 25-19 win.

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“Losing the first set was a wake-up call for us. We knew we had to fight harder, communicate better, and stay disciplined," skipper Mercy Moim said. "I am proud of how we bounced back as a team and finished strong."

The win marked KCB's emphatic road to the final, which has seen The Bankers top Pool D after straight-set wins over Nigeria’s Vipers and Partners, Seychelles’ ARSU Ladies, and Cameroon’s Litto Team Volleyball to finish the preliminary stage with maximum points.

In the Round of 16, they dispatched Burundi’s GLC in another emphatic 3-0 victory before brushing aside Mayo Kano Evolution in the quarter-finals to maintain their perfect run in Cairo.

In the other semi-final, Al Ahly beat CFC of Tunisia in four sets: 20-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-22.

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