Kenya’s Malkia Strikers Qualify for 2020 Olympics Games After 16-Year Hiatus

Kenya's national women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers have qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games, ending their 16-year absence in the competition.

Malkia Strikers clinched the only ticket reserved for Africa in the Summer Games after whipping Nigeria 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-12) in their final qualifying match at the Paposy Arena in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Thursday evening.

The Kenyans, coached by Paul Bitok, ended the qualifying campaign at the top of the table, just one point ahead of arch-rivals Cameroon who came second on 10. Cameroon, who represented the continent in the previous edition in Rio, Brazil, suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Malkia Strikers on Tuesday.

Prior to today’s qualification, Kenya had made three straight unsuccessful attempts to qualify for Olympics Games. The nine-time African champions last featured at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and now join Kenya Sevens and Kenya Lionesses as the only team sports that will represent Kenya in Tokyo 2020.