28/08/2026
HISTORY WRITTEN: ZAMBIA LEADS ZONE 6 INTO THE NEXT ROUND OF AFRICAN VOLLEYBALL 🇿🇲🏐🌍
WHAT ZAMBIA’S VICTORY MEANS TO THE ZONE 6 VOLLEYBALL FAMILY
Nairobi, Kenya | 29 August 2026
Zambia has made history.
The Zambia Women’s National Volleyball Team has achieved a landmark moment for CAVB Zone 6, becoming the first Zone 6 women’s national team to advance to the knockout phase of the CAVB Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship.
The historic achievement was sealed in Nairobi after Zambia produced a magnificent 3–1 victory over Mali, winning 25–19, 22–25, 25–16 and 25–21 in their final Group A encounter.
This is no ordinary victory. It is a victory that belongs not only to Zambia, but to the entire Zone 6 volleyball family.
🇿🇲 FROM ZONE 6 QUALIFIERS TO AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Zambia did not arrive in Nairobi by chance.
The team earned its place at the continental championship through the CAVB Zone 6 qualification pathway, emerging as the regional representative and carrying with it the hopes of Southern African volleyball.
That opportunity brought Zambia into a highly competitive African championship featuring the continent's strongest national teams. The 2026 championship brings together Africa's leading volleyball nations, with the continental title also carrying major qualification implications for the LA28 Olympic Games and the 2027 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup.
Zambia was drawn into Pool A alongside hosts and defending champions Kenya and Mali.
The journey began under the most difficult circumstances.
MATCH 1 — THE CHAMPIONS' TEST 🇰🇪
Zambia opened the championship against hosts Kenya, one of Africa's most established women's volleyball powers.
The Zambian girls suffered a 3–0 defeat, with Kenya winning 25–14, 25–9 and 25–11.
For many teams, such an opening could have broken confidence.
For Zambia, it became the beginning of the response.
MATCH 2 — THE COMEBACK 🇿🇲🔥
Facing Mali in the decisive Group A encounter, Zambia knew that everything was on the line.
The girls responded.
They took the first set 25–19, Mali fought back to take the second 25–22, but Zambia refused to surrender.
The technical team made important adjustments. The serve became more aggressive, the middle attack was brought back into the game and Zambia stabilised its reception and defensive organisation.
The result was a dominant 25–16 third set, followed by a composed 25–21 fourth set to close the match 3–1.
Zambia had done it.
HISTORY FOR ZONE 6
The significance of this moment stretches far beyond the Zambian flag.
For years, Zone 6 has produced talented players, coaches, referees, administrators and competitive national teams. But reaching the knockout phase of the senior African Nations Championship represents a new benchmark.
Zambia has now opened a new chapter for Zone 6.
The Zambian team has shown that a Zone 6 nation can enter the African championship, withstand the pressure of the continent's best, recover from adversity and advance into the knockout stages.
This is an achievement that can inspire the next generation across Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho, Angola and the wider Zone 6 volleyball community.
The achievement says something powerful:
Zone 6 belongs on Africa's biggest volleyball stage.
NEXT STOP: THE ROUND OF 16 🇿🇲🔥
Zambia now moves into the Round of 16, where the Zone 6 envoys will face GHANA, who secured their place in the knockout phase from Pool C.
The challenge gets bigger.
The opposition gets stronger.
But so does the opportunity.
The Round of 16 is no longer about simply participating. Zambia is now playing for a place among the leading teams of African women's volleyball.
And whatever happens next, history has already been written.
FROM ZAMBIA TO THE WHOLE ZONE 6 FAMILY
This achievement belongs to every coach who has developed a young player in Zone 6.
It belongs to every referee who has travelled countless kilometres to officiate a match.
It belongs to every administrator who has worked to keep volleyball alive.
It belongs to every parent who has supported a daughter chasing a volleyball dream.
It belongs to every club, province, federation and association that continues to invest in the development of the sport.
And it belongs to every young girl in Zone 6 who now has another reason to believe that her volleyball dream can take her to Africa's biggest stage.
Zambia has carried the Zone 6 flag to Nairobi — and the flag is still flying.
🇿🇲 THE ZONE 6 ENVOYS
Led by Head Coach Arnold Simulezi, the Zambia Women’s National Volleyball Team has demonstrated resilience, tactical discipline and character on the continental stage.
The technical analysis of the Mali victory showed that Zambia's turnaround was built on stronger serve pressure, improved first-contact quality and a more balanced attack, particularly after the second-set setback.
This is the kind of response that creates champions.
They came as Zone 6 representatives.
They fought as Zambia.
They have advanced as history-makers.
🏐 THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
The road from the Zone 6 qualification stage to Nairobi has already produced one of the most important moments in the history of Southern African women's volleyball.
But Zambia's story is not finished.
The Round of 16 against Nigeria now awaits.
One match.
One opportunity.
One more chapter.
Congratulations to Team Zambia. 🇿🇲
Congratulations to the Zambia Volleyball Association.
Congratulations to the coaches, players, officials, families and supporters.
And congratulations to the entire CAVB Zone 6 volleyball family.
HISTORY HAS BEEN WRITTEN.
THE ZONE 6 ENVOYS ARE STILL FIGHTING.
ZAMBIA — DREAMS NEVER DIE. 🇿🇲💚🏐
