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By Rasaq Oboirien
Edith Wisa says Kenya’s Malkia Strikers will be at their best as they play against Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the ongoing 2023 African Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship today, at the Palais Polyvalet Des Sports Arena in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The 3-0 win over debutantes Lesotho on Sunday marked the end of the first round and Wisa is confident Kenya will go all the way to the final and clinch a record-extending 10th African title.
On the other hand, Nigeria lost 2-3 (16-25, 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 6-15) to Algeria in their last group stage match.
Despite Sunday’s loss, the team made it to the quarterfinal, where they would face the East Africans. The Nigerian women’s team recorded two wins against Mali and Burundi as well as three losses in the hands of Cameroon, Egypt, and Algeria in the group stage.
Wisa, a middle blocker who is clinical in attack and solid in defence, is an invaluable asset to Malkia Strikers. She reckons that the team is now at a different level having benefited from high performance training for three consecutive years through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Programme.
“When we started the competition, we knew we had eight matches to play and now we have three left. Our target still remains to reach the final and win this championship. We want this trophy so badly and I can assure Kenyans that we are going to bring it home.
“Everybody is psyched up and understands the task ahead. Winning this competition will take us closer to qualifying for the Paris Olympics. I had a great experience at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and I want to go back there,” Wisa asserted.
