NAIROBI, Kenya, February 1, 2026 – Kisumu Lakers taliswoman Maureen ‘Archie’ Achieng’ was beside herself after she was crowned Player of the Match in the final of the Africa Club Hockey Championships in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Achieng’ spurred the lakeside team to victory as they beat Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Saturday to clinch their first ever continental crown.
“I don’t have a lot to say, but I’m just happy for my team that we’ve won because that is what brought us here,” she said.
The closely contested final ended 1–1 in regulation time, before Lakers held their nerve in the shootout, winning 2–0 on penalties to dethrone the five-time champions.
Facing a formidable GRA side, Lakers entered the final as underdogs but produced a performance defined by resilience, belief, and collective character.
After falling behind, the Kenyan champions rallied from the second quarter into the third, growing in confidence and eventually forcing the match into a shootout.
Wearing the number six jersey, Archie was instrumental during the decisive shootout moments.
Reflecting on the team’s fightback and the support from home, Archie added:
“To all our fans, thank you very much for supporting us and not giving up on us. And for my team, I really thank them because they worked very hard for it.”
Lakers’ dominance throughout the tournament was further underlined by Alice Owiti, who was named Player of the Tournament, capping off a memorable continental campaign for the Kenyan side.
The victory marks a landmark moment for Kenyan hockey, as Lakers Hockey Club ascend to the top of African club hockey, showcasing the nation’s growing strength on the continental stage and delivering a title that will be remembered for years to come.
