Malkia strikers failed to defend Africa Nations championships women Volleyball tournament held in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The Kenya national team failed to control home team plus booing fans and fell 3-0 (25-22, 35-29 and 29-27) to Cameroon at the Palais des Sports Indoor Arena.
It was Kenya’s first defeat in the competition which had brought together nine countries, and it gifted Cameroon her first ever gold medal in the biennial competition which is now in its 17th edition.
Kenya coach Japheth Munala, who was chasing his first continental crown with the side, stuck to his best six which included setter Jane Wacu, Violet Makuto, Mercy Moim, Brackcides Agala, Edith Wisa and libero Agrippina Kundu.
Kenya began strongly and were leading 5-3 in the first set before Cameroon settled down and scored some quick points to conjure an 8-6 lead at the first technical timeout.
The hosts never looked back again and despite getting pegged down to a 22-22 stalemate towards the end of the first set, they held their own and ended up taking the set 25-22.
The second set was even more excruciating for the Kenyan ladies who appeared to suffer lack of mental fortitude, and they trailed the hosts throughout the set before winding up 25-19 losers heading into the final round.