KCB stumble to Al Ahly in African Volleyball Club Championship final
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 23.04.26. | 22:00
Defeat was The Bankers' first in the competition, following a flawless run through the groups, to the knockouts
KCB women's volleyball team could not end their four-year wait for a third Women's African Volleyball Club Championship crown after going down to Egyptian rivals Al Ahly in a hard-fought final in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, 23 April.
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KCB, who last won the continental title in 2022, began brightly by winning the first set, but dropped the resulting three to fall 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-16), handing Al Ahly their 11th crown, which stands as the best record in the continent.
The Bankers, playing right in front of a hostile atmosphere, drew first blood in a see-saw first set, taking it 25-22. Hosts Al Ahly were, however, not to be stopped, as they rallied to a quick 25-15 win in the second set, before holding their nerve to stem a slight fightback from KCB, and taking control of the tie.
The fourth set followed the same trend as the second, with Al Ahly seizing proceedings early, on their way to winning their first African title since 2019.
"First of all, my appreciation goes to everyone on the team for not giving up, even when things got tough," KCB skipper Mercy Moim said post-game.
"We fought to the end and gave our best. While we did not get the result we wanted, we are proud of how far we have come and how we represented Kenya.
This experience will only make us stronger. We will take the lessons from this tournament and come back even better."
The defeat was KCB's first in this year's competition, having gone on a seamless run from the group stages to the knockouts.
Japheth Munala's side opened their Pool D campaign with a straight-sets victory over Nigeria’s Vipers and Partners (25-19, 25-19, 25-19), before overcoming Seychelles’ ARSU Ladies 3-0 (25-09, 25-14, 25-17).
They sealed top spot with a dominant display against Cameroon’s Litto Team Volleyball in another 3-0 win (25-13, 25-22, 25-23) to finish the preliminary stage with maximum points.
The Bankers carried that momentum into the knockout rounds, dispatching Burundi’s GLC 3-0 (25-13, 25-07, 25-14) in the Round of 16, before sweeping past Cameroon’s Mayo Kani Evolution 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-21) in the quarter-finals to maintain their perfect run.
In the semi-finals, they rallied from a first-set loss to defeat Kenyan rivals Kenya Pipeline Volleyball Club 3-1 (16-25, 25-10, 25-15, 25-19), booking their place in a storied final.
Prior to their Thursday evening meeting, KCB had faced Al Ahly in the final on three occasions, winning twice.
Their first meeting was in the 2006 final in Vacoas, Mauritius, which saw KCB recover from a group stage loss to edge the Egyptians 3-2.
Al Ahly responded in 2009, winning 3-1 in Nairobi, before KCB ended Kenya’s nine-year title drought with a commanding 3-1 triumph in Kelibia, Tunisia, in 2022.
“I am very proud of the team," KCB Volleyball patron Judith Sidi Odhiambo said. "They have shown great determination throughout the tournament.
Finishing second in Africa is no small feat. We will carry this momentum into our local competitions, keep our heads high and win all that is there."
Earlier on Thursday, fellow Kenyan side Kenya Pipeline secured the bronze medal, beating Tunisia's Carthage VC 3-1 (25-17, 17-26, 26-24, 25-21).
