Egypt secured their place in the grand final of the 2026 Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship after outlasting Rwanda in a straight-sets sweep (25–5, 25–17, 32–30) at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
While the scoreline reflects a 3–0 win, Rwanda pushed the North Africans to their absolute limits in a breathtaking 32–30 third-set epic that had the Nairobi crowd on its feet.
By reaching the final, Egypt has placed themselves within touching distance of massive global rewards:
Direct Qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games: The ultimate prize of this tournament belongs strictly to the champion.
Winning the final guarantees an automatic berth at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Reaching the top two guarantees Egypt a spot at the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Championship.
Having last won the title in 2003, the Pharaohs are chasing their fourth African crown to end a two-decade drought and avenge their runner-up finish in 2023.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Rwanda’s tournament is far from over. Rwanda heads to the third-place playoff match. The top three finishers in Nairobi automatically qualify for the 2027 World Championship, making the bronze medal game a high-stakes, must-win battle for global qualification. After finishing fourth in the 2023 edition, Rwanda is aiming for its first-ever podium finish in tournament history.Attention now turns to the second semifinal, held at the same Kasarani venue, where powerhouse Cameroon clashes with home favorites Kenya. The winner will join Egypt in the final to fight for continental supremacy and that coveted direct Olympic ticket to LA28. The lossing team will take on Rwanda in the third playoff game.
