Malkia Strikers captain Meldina Sande has opened up about the tribulations of processing the deflating 3-0 defeat to Egypt in the 2026 CAVB Women's African Nations Championship that saw Kenya surrender their title and fail to secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsKenya faced their Egyptian counterparts in the final of the recently concluded 2026 CAVB Women's African Nations Championship, which was staged in Kenya for the first time in 11 years. Malkia Strikers pay courtesy visit to Mozzart Bet after CAVB Women's African ChampionshipAfter the full-time whistle sounded, the team broke into tears, with the thought of losing the final at home and missing out on a direct ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics proving too much to bear.Sande, a pillar of strength in the team, was equally in tears but quickly resorted to wrapping her arms around her teammates and, in an interview with Mozzart Sport, opened up about how the result has affected the team.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945972##“First of all, as sports people, we have to accept the result of the day, but it has not been easy. Everyone is feeling the pain,” said Sande.“It is a big challenge as a leader of a team which has the ability to do it, but at some point you lose the energy and lose a crucial match. Malkia Strikers captain explains what went wrong against EgyptYou ask yourself so many questions because you feel like the blame will be on you, but I thank God for giving me the strength to stand with my team and Kenyans for their support,” she added.The former Kenya Prisons captain expressed her gratitude to the team's main sponsor, Mozzart Bet Kenya, who hosted them for a courtesy visit on Tuesday, 8 September.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945978##“Mozzart Bet has not only been our sponsor but has also acted as our parent. They have embraced us even in times of defeat, and that has helped in lifting the spirits of the team,” she noted.Nonetheless, Sande, who plies her trade with Police of Rwanda, backed her team to get back on their feet even as they prepare for the 2027 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup.Malkia Strikers fans issue mixed reactions after surrendering CAVB African Championship title“We are still a very good team. It was just a bad day in office, and so we have to bounce back. We just need to hold our heads high because we know that we have a good team with good players who are capable of winning matches,” she remarked.
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