Volleyball coach optimistic despite eighth-place finish at African Championship

Uganda women's volleyball coach Soita Protus Barasa believes his team can build on its performance at the 2026 CAVB Women's African Nations Championship despite finishing eighth in Nairobi, Kenya.

The championship started on August 25 and ended on Friday after the knockout and classification matches, which saw Egypt win its fourth African title and secure the continental ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Barasa says the team performed above his expectations after reaching the quarter-finals for the second successive championship.

"I am not really pained, even though we failed to reach the semi-finals or final, because we exceeded expectations. When I look at the team, they have done so well beyond what I expected overall," he said.

Uganda started the tournament strongly with 3-0 wins over Senegal and Burkina Faso before losing 3-0 to eventual champions Egypt.

The Lady Cranes responded by beating DR Congo 3-0 in the Round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals.

However, Cameroon ended Uganda's hopes of reaching the semi-finals with a 3-0 victory.

Uganda then lost two close classification matches, going down 3-2 to both Algeria and Ghana. Ghana won the deciding fifth set 15-9, leaving Uganda eighth.

Despite the defeats, Barasa believes the players showed that Uganda can compete with some of Africa's best teams.

"The players put their hearts out, and that gives me confidence. We have seen where we can compete, and now we must work on the areas that held us back," he said.

The eighth-place finish means Uganda matched their position from the 2023 championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where they also reached the quarter-finals.

Uganda first appeared at the African championship in 2009 in Blida, Algeria, finishing ninth. After a 14-year absence, they returned in 2023 and have now reached the quarter-finals in two successive editions.

Barasa wants Uganda to use the experience from Nairobi to prepare better for future continental competitions.

"This experience has given us a clear picture of what we need to improve. We will go back, analyse the matches, correct our weaknesses and prepare better because the players have shown they can compete at this level consistently," he added.

Meanwhile, in the final, Egypt beat hosts Kenya 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-15).

Egypt also completed the championship with a perfect record, winning all seven matches and all 21 sets without losing a single set.

Egypt's Mariam Metwally Mohamed Morsy was named MVP and best outside hitter, while Nada Ahmed Houssameldein was among the best receiver-attackers.

Kenya's Elizabeth Marian Sokoyivo and Cameroon's Cecile Laure Nabyong were named best middle blockers, while Kenya's Malyne Terry Tata Idachi was the best opposite hitter.

Egypt's Doaa Abdelghany was named best passer, and Nada Essa was named best libero.

Kenya finished second, while Cameroon took bronze after beating Rwanda, leaving Rwanda fourth.

Tunisia finished fifth, with Algeria sixth.

Ghana finished seventh after beating Uganda 3-2, with Uganda taking eighth.

The remaining teams finished as follows: Nigeria ninth, Mali 10th, DR Congo 11th, Zambia 12th, Senegal 13th, Burundi 14th, and Burkina Faso 15th.