The Malkia Strikers’ aspirations to defend their African Games title were dashed on Friday as they succumbed to Egypt in a gripping five-set match at the Borteyman Sports Complex’s Multi-purpose Hall in Accra, Ghana.
The team, guided by Japheth Munala, began strongly, overpowering Egypt with set victories of 25-23 and 25-19. On the brink of clinching their sixth African Games title, the Strikers faltered, and Egypt seized the opportunity, exploiting the Strikers’ defensive weaknesses to take the third set 25-17.
The fourth set was a spectacle of intense competition, with the Strikers aiming to close out the match and Egypt determined to stage a comeback.
Ultimately, it was Egypt who emerged victorious in the nail-biting fourth set, taking advantage of the Strikers’ defensive lapses to win 27-25. Egypt’s resurgence culminated in a 15-13 victory in the final set, avenging their previous defeat to the Strikers in the last African Cup of Nations final in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The Malkia Strikers now set their sights on the bronze medal match, where they will face the loser of the semi-final between Tunisia and host nation Ghana, which was scheduled for later on Friday.
