The Kenyan team had been forced to sit out the opening day, with hosts Cameroon and Tunisia meeting in their three team Group A.

With Tunisia having fallen to a 3-2 defeat in their opening tie, the Kenya squad knew if they defeated the North Africans they would be guaranteed a place in the last four of the event.

A closely fought opening set was claimed 25-20 by Kenya and they looked on the verge of the semi-finals, maintaining the momentum to win the second 25-17.

With such a comfortable advantage, the Kenyan team suffered a lapse in concentration in the third set and saw a 10-point advantage evaporate.

They regained their composure, though, to seal a 25-20, 25-17, 25-23 win.

Kenya’s victory also guaranteed that Cameroon would join them in the last four.

The two teams are now due to meet to decide the group winners tomorrow.

Algeria and Egypt will clash to decide who advances as the winners of Group B after both recorded their second victories.

Uganda made the Algerian team work hard for the opening set but after their opponents won 25-22 their level of performance dipped considerably.

It helped the Algerians maintain their record of having not lost a set, claiming the remaining two 25-14, 25-12.

Egypt boost an identical record after brushing aside the challenge of Botswana 25-21, 25-13, 25-17.

The Algerian team look likely to be the team to beat for the one place on offer, having represented the continent at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

The second and third placed teams from the competition will earn a place at an intercontinental qualifier due to be held in the period from May 14 to June 5.

Lying in wait are Colombia and Puerto Rico, the third placed teams from the South American and North, Central America and Caribbean qualifiers respectively.

Six countries have already qualified for the women's competition at Rio 2016.

Hosts Brazil have already been joined by China, Serbia, Russia, Argentina and the United States.