Kenya U20men's volleyball team in Cairo/ HANDOUTKenya’s U20 men’s volleyball team setter Emmanuel Some says they are going for nothing short of the title at the ongoing 2025 African U20 Nations Championship in Cairo, Egypt.
After a shaky start, the Junior Wafalme Stars bounced back with back-to-back victories, beating Morocco 3–1 on Monday and Rwanda 3–1 on Tuesday to seal their spot in the quarterfinals.
Kenya plays Algeria in the last eight on Thursday.
They served off their campaign with a 3-1 loss to Cameroon on Saturday. Cameroon lead Pool ‘A’ with nine points as Kenya (6), Morocco (2) and Rwanda follow.
“I am happy for our wins so far. We had started on the wrong foot but we were able to redeem ourselves,” said Some.“As we head towards the quarters and semis, we hope all will be aligned with what our coach has instilled in us. Our target is to lift the cup.”
Egypt lead Pool B with eight points, followed by Uganda (7), Algeria (6), and Zimbabwe (0).
Team captain Reagan Otieno credited the team’s turnaround to quick corrections and improved execution.
“We realised the errors we had, especially in setting,” said Otieno. “It’s a great achievement to have come this far. We hope for the best in the quarters. We look to push through and hopefully secure victory.”
He praised the squad’s adaptability and growth during the tournament: “They are learning fast, adjusting when needed, and that’s exactly the mentality we want going forward.”
Reaching the quarters has boosted Kenya’s quest for qualification to the 2025 FIVB U20 World Championship, where the top six will earn tickets to China.
