Junior Wafalme exit U-20 Africa Nations Championship after Egypt defeat

The home side, buoyed by the local crowd, took the opening set 25-21.

 Kenya started brightly and matched their opponents in the early stages, but unforced errors in reception and blocking allowed Egypt to pull ahead in the closing points.

The second set turned into a thriller as the Junior Wafalme rallied from an early deficit to tie the game at 24-all.

However, a service error and a sharp Egyptian spike handed the hosts a 26-24 win, stretching their advantage to two sets.

The third set was a tense battle, with Kenya leading on several occasions thanks to strong serving and quick attacks through the middle.

But Egypt’s composure at the net saw them claw back and edge the set 25-23, sealing a 3-0 victory and a place in the final.

Kenya had earlier shown their resilience in the quarterfinals, producing a stirring comeback to beat Rwanda 3-1 in the highly billed 'Majirani Derby.'

Rwanda snatched the first set 26-24, but the Junior Wafalme hit back in style, taking the next three sets 25-14, 25-20, and 25-21 to secure a famous win.

The championship, staged in Cairo, has brought together Africa’s top volleyball nations, showcasing some of the continent’s brightest young talents.