Perfect start keeps Lady Cranes on track for Olympic dream in Los Angeles 2028
Uganda have won both of their Pool B matches without dropping a set, beating Senegal 3-0 on Tuesday before producing another 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Wednesday.
Courtesy photo
CAVB Women’s African Nations Championship
Uganda 3 Senegal 0
Burkina Faso 0 Uganda 3
Thursday (Kasarani Arena, Nairobi)
Uganda v Egypt 10AM
Lady Volleyball Cranes coach Protus Soita believes Uganda’s improved serving, reception, and defence have given his team a strong start to the CAVB Women’s African Nations Championship in Nairobi.
Uganda have won both of their Pool B matches without dropping a set, beating Senegal 3-0 on Tuesday before producing another 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Wednesday.
The Lady Volleyball Cranes beat Senegal 25-21, 25-15, and 25-16 before overcoming Burkina Faso 25-14, 25-13, and 25-18.
The two wins have given Uganda six points and put them in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals.
Soita, however, believes the team has improved since the pre-tournament friendly against Senegal last week, which Uganda won 3-2.
“The performance by the girls at the beginning, I saw in the friendly, we began badly. We played in a very bad shape; they failed to receive, they failed to do everything,” Soita said.
Uganda corrected those problems in the championship opener, with their serving and reception helping them control Senegal after falling behind in the first set.
“We first of all talked and prepared the girls well because we know very well that the team which you have actually met and played can really give you a headache,” he said.
The plan worked again against Burkina Faso as Uganda controlled the match from the start, winning the first two sets 25-14 and 25-13 before recovering from a slow start to take the third 25-18.
“I should say that it helped us a lot. We picked from there because we saw that service, good reception, and zone serving could pay off. We tried it again in this game and it has actually given us what we wanted,” Soita said.
The two victories have also given Uganda confidence as they prepare for their biggest Pool B test against Egypt, who are among the favourites for the title. The game could decide who finishes top of the group.
“The third group match is one of the matches which I feel is the most difficult one, but it is not impossible because I am going to meet Egypt and they are good at defending,” Soita said.
“I watched them play against Burkina Faso and I think with what I saw and with what I am going to plan, quietly as a technical bench, I have to go for them,” he said.
The 2026 championship has added importance, with the African champions earning direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while the top three teams will qualify for the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Championship.