Kenya to host 2026 Women’s African Volleyball championship
By Luke Oluoch, January 21, 2026The African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) has confirmed that Kenya will host the 2026 African Women’s Nations Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place in Nairobi from August 23 to September 5, 2026.
The tournament will feature 16 women’s national teams, with participating teams qualifying through the six zonal champions.
In total, the tourney will have the host nation, Kenya, and the top nine registered teams, selected based on the CAVB rankings from the 2023 African Nations Championships, with the final lineup being eventually approved by the CAVB Board of Administration.
The championship will serve as the qualification pathway for both the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA, and the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship scheduled for Poland.
The Malkia Strikers, under coach Geoffrey Omondi, will head to the games hoping to extend their fine run as record African champions and carry on the run of their Junior Malkia Strikers, who clinched the U20 African Volleyball championship in 2025.
Wafalme Stars
In a similar development, the Kenya Volleyball Federation has confirmed the participation of Wafalme Stars in the 2026 Men’s African Senior Nations Volleyball Championship.
The event will take place in Kinshasa, DR Congo, from September 7 to 21, 2026.
The men’s volleyball team will compete in a robust field representing all six continental zones.
KVF has announced that the team’s technical bench will be embarking on early preparations ahead of the start of the race for continental glory.
“This record field of 27 teams underscores the rapid growth and competitive depth of volleyball across the continent. The Wafalme Stars’ technical bench has commenced preliminary monitoring as we prepare to take on Africa’s elite,” part of its statement on the Wafalme’s participation read.
Confirmed Teams by Zone:
• Zone 1: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
• Zone 2: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Senegal
• Zone 3: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana
• Zone 4: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo (Hosts)
• Zone 5: KENYA, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda
• Zone 6: Angola, Zimbabwe
Meanwhile,