CAN2007 [Women]

Group A

Senegal 3-0 Rwanda 

Group B

Kenya 3-0 Botswana

Algeria 3-1 Cameroon 

Rwanda’s national female volleyball team failed to make the most of their Group (B) when they succumbed to a 3-0 loss against Senegal on the first day of the Malta Guinness-sponsored Africa Cup of Nations in Nairobi.

With a World Cup berth at stake, Senegal proved a hard nut to crack as they walloped Rwanda in straight sets; 25-11, 28-26 and 25-22.

Senegal took the game to their opponents winning most of the 50-50 balls over the net and punished Rwanda for their lack of co-ordination and edge in attack.

Rwanda’s defeat means they have to defeat the group’s top sides, Egypt and Tunisia if they are to realise their major target of reaching the last four.

"We started off on a bad note but it’s not yet over.

If we win today’s (yesterday)’s game against South Africa, then we shall definitely be in the race,” Emmanuel Ndungutse, the local volleyball federation’s technical director said.

In Group A, the competitions’ defending champions Kenya silenced Botswana with a 3-0 win while Algeria stumped their authority as the game’s new powerhouse after coming through an epic encounter with Cameroon.

The 2007 All Africa Games champions ‘Algeria’ secured a 3-1 set victory over Cameroon to register a similar score-line at the 2007 All Africa Games final.

Ends