Kasaya admitted there is room for the Southern Africans to grow into a continental powerhouse.

“They are not a bad team…as a matter of fact, they are a very good team that is knowledgeable about volleyball. Based on how far they have come, I’d say they played really well to the best of their ability,” the Kenya Pipeline player said.

Malkia Strikers were relentless in their match against Lesotho, taking the first set 25-5 before clinching the second one 25-8.

Lesotho attempted to put up a fight in the ultimate set but were powerless to stop their marauding opponents who eventually won 25-13.

Reflecting on the duel, Kasaya said the victory is another step towards the continental title, which would guarantee passage to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Having topped Pool B ahead of Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Morocco, Uganda and Lesotho, Kenya’s next date is with Nigeria on Tuesday in their last eight tie.

“Our focus remains, which is to win this title so we can be in Paris next year. We are, however, not underrating any team because we know that they also want the same thing that we want. Nonetheless, we have to do what is required, which is to win our games,” she said.  

The Kenyans have been stupendous, only dropping a set against Morocco in their penultimate tie on Saturday.

Kasaya believes their imperious form is down to their preparations before the competition, which included a two-week residential training camp in Morocco before departing from the FIVB Challenger Cup in France.

“The fact that we have only dropped one set goes to show the levels of preparations that have gone into this championships. What this shows our opponents is that we were ready for anything,” she added.

Kenya will be hoping to usurp their bitter rivals from West Africa, Cameroon, who beat them 3-1 in Nairobi in 2021 to deny them a tenth continental title.