Yaounde, Cameroon, January 5, 2020 - Kenya and Cameroon took decisive first steps toward a showdown to determine the single African team that will advance to the women's volleyball tournament of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as qualifiers opened Sunday evening in Yaounde.
It marks the start of more than a week-long volleyball extravaganza that will see one team from each of the Continental Confederations complete the 12-team Tokyo 2020 lineup.
Reigning African champions Cameroon fought off two Botswana set points in the third, but eventually disposed of their opponents 3-0 (25-17, 25-4, 27-25) and stayed on track for back-to-back Olympic appearances.
The Lionesses made a 9-0 run (with Christelle Tchoudjang serving) from 5-3 and another 11-0 run (with Berthrade Bikatal serving) from 13-4 in the second.
Cameroon players celebrate their win over Botswana on the opening day of the African qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Earlier in the evening, Kenya had come back from a set down to beat Egypt 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-22) staying on course in their bid to become the first African side to make the Olympic Games for a third time.
Egypt came from way behind in the fourth set in a last-ditch attempt to take the game into a tie-break, but Kenya wrapped it up after reaching match point with four to spare and avoided any mishaps.
It was a clash that confirmed both the Malkia Strikers' continental domination and Egypt's aspirations to challenge the traditional powers of Africa through their new women's volleyball programme.
The other four continental qualifiers begin as of Tuesday:
● Africa: 5-9 January in Yaounde
● Asia: 7-12 January in Nakhon Ratchasima
● Europe: 7-12 January in Apeldoorn
● North & Central America and Caribbean: 10-12 January in Santo Domingo
● South America: 7-9 January in Bogota
Serbia, China, USA, Brazil, Russia and Italy have already qualified since last August through an intercontinental process. Japan had secured their spot by default as hosts of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Quick links - Volleyball:
Continental Tokyo Volleyball Qualification
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