Kenya has named newbies Sharon Sandui of Kenya Prisons, and KCB's middle blocker Mildred Cherop in the provisional squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as the country seeks to retain the continental volleyball title it won in 2023 in Cameroon.
Kenya will host the 22nd edition of Africa’s premier national team tournament from August 23 to September 5, 2026 at the Indoor Arena at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Other than qualifying for the 2027 FIVB World Cup, the winner of the two-week championship will get points towards global ranking which will count towards qualification for 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Sandui, 25, is a seasoned libero, having been named the best libero with Kenya Prisons in the 2023/2024 Kenya Volleyball Federation National League season, while Cherop is also a seasoned middle blocker who finished third in the league with KCB last season. She is yet to feature for the national team.
The duo is in Kenya’s provisional squad of 24 players who will start residential training on April 27 in Nairobi ahead of the continental championship that returns to Nairobi after a decade.
Malkia Strikers Head Coach Geoffrey Omondi will whittle down the squad to 16 players. The final squad of 16 will leave for a 14-day training camp in Serbia two weeks before the continental championship.
Omondi disclosed that the players, who have been recalled are not new to the national team set-up, having trained with Malkia Strikers before but have never had a chance to make the final team.
Omondi has only included two foreign-based players in the squad. They are outside hitters Veronica Adhiambo who is based in Greece, and skipper Meldina Sande who plays for Police Rwanda.
Other players recalled to the team are experienced setter Esther Mutinda of KCB and middle blockers Ann Lowem of Kenya Prisons, Pauline Chemutai (KCB), Caroline Sirengo (DCI), and Marian Sokoiyo (Kenya Pipeline).
Others are outside hitters Sarah Namisi (DCI) and Pauline Itoo (Prisons), libero Sharon Sandui (Prisons) and opposite hitter Deborah Chesang (KCB).
“They now have trained with the team before but they are back for another opportunity. Team selection is based on merit and hard work,” Omondi, who has sought to rebuild the team by infusing young players in the playing unit, said.
Coach Omondi named the team on Sunday after completion of the preliminary round of the Kenya Cup held at the Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium from Friday till Sunday.
Present at the team naming were Kenya Volleyball Federation First Deputy president, Paul Bitok, Second Deputy president, Kenneth Tonui, and Organising Secretary John Oronje.
Bitok said the continental championship that will be held in Nairobi are key for Kenya’s qualification to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Malkia Strikers only need to reach the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to realise that dream.
Reaching the final will see Kenya collect maximum points, thereby consolidating their world ranking and qualifying for 2028 Olympics as the highest ranked team from Africa.
Kenya, which rose to 19th place in world ranking last year, is currently the highest ranked team in Africa.
Kenya is ranked 21st globally with 158.49 points, Cameroon is 45th with 76.72 points, while Egypt is 63rd globally with 46.09 points.
The continental championship will also be used as a qualification for the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Poland.
“Hosting the tournament brings both opportunity and pressure for all international qualifications. With this group, we want to take advantage of the home support and improve on what we achieved at the last world championship,” said Omondi.
Setters: Emmaculate Nekesa (KPC), Fridah Boke (KCB), Esther Mutinda (KCB), Sheila Kasandi (KPR)
Opposite hitters: Mercy Iminza (DCI), Marlene Terry (KCB), Deborah Chesang (KCB)
Middle blockers: Gladys Ekaru (KPC), Belinda Barasa (KCB), Lorine Chebet (KPR), Marian Sokoiyo (KPC), Pauline Chemutai (KCB), Mildred Cherop (KCB), Caroline Sirengo (DCI), Ann Lowem (KPR)
Outside Hitters: Veronica Adhiambo (Greece), Meldina Sande (Police Rwanda), Juliana Namutira (KCB), Sarah Namisi (DCI), Jemimah Siang’a (DCI), Pauline Itoo (KPR)
Liberos: Celestine Nyongesa (KPC), Sharon Sandui (KPC), Josephine Kataa (KCB).
