African giants and 5 time champions Zamalek of Egypt started their 2015 Men’s African Club Championship campaign in their best performance as they beat the defending champions Esperance of Tunisia 3-1 (25-21, 15-21, 25-22, 25-20) in Pool B on opening day of the competition held at Olympic and Msaken Halls in Sousse, Tunisia on Saturday.
Beside Zamalek, most of the favourite teams started also victories specially the hosts Etoile Sportive du Sahel (TUN), record holders Ahly (EGY) FAP (CMR), Borj Bouaririj and Setif (both from ALG).
Among emerging teams are the 2 Moroccan representatives FAR and Tangier who set the first victory after the long absence for Morocco from this peak African event.
The competition opening day featured 12 matches in the 4 preliminary pools and will be resumed with the same number in Day 2 on Sunday.
The opening day was attended by CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani, Control Committee president Louis Timba, SOC Delegates Okba Gougam and Morakinyo Ebenezer, Referee Delegates Hassan Ahmed and Majeed Djirad and CAVB executive Director Howyda Mondy.
Pool A
ESS (TUN) v Autoridede (MOZ) 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-17)
Ittihad Tangier (MAR) v Daim Hamad (SUD) 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-16)
Douanes (BUR) v Atletico (CPV) 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-12, 24-26, 15-7)
In Pool A it was an easy journey for the Hosts ESS (TUN) to beat the less experienced Autoridade (MOZ) 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-17) in 52 minutes. Outside hitter Mohamed Ben Ali was the match scorer with 15 points as the organisers dominated all the skills. Ittihad Tangier (MAR) overwhelm Daim Hamad (SUD) 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-16) in a match showing great performance for the winners in their first appearance at the continental level.
Douanes (BUR) needed more than 2 hours to overpower Atletico (CPV) 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-12, 24-26, 15-7) in one of the day’s most thrilling match.
Pool B
FAR (MAR) v Swehly (LIB) 3-2 (19-25, 25-14, 25-15, 18-25, 15-13)
Zamalek (EGY) v Esperance (TUN) 3-1 (25-21, 15-21, 25-22, 25-20)
FAP (CMR) v Nahda (SUD) 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-20)
Zamalek (EGY) started their campaign in the best performance as they battled the defending champions Esperance (TUN) 3-1 (25-21, 15-21, 25-22, 25-20) in an exciting show lasting 98 minutes. Opposite spiker Reda Heikal topped the match scorers with 17 points and helped with his 3 aces to pick the crucial victory.
FAR (MAR) showed a good come back for the Moroccan Volleyball as they topped Swehly (LIB) 3-2 (19-25, 25-14, 25-15, 18-25, 15-13) in a grueling five setter as Cameroon’s FAP beat Nahda (SUD) 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-20) in a one side encounter.
Pool C
Ahly (EGY) v GSU (KEN) 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-17)
Bourj Bouaririj (ALG) v APR (RWA) 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-14)
Espoir (COD) v Nemo Star (UGA) 3-1 (25-18,19-25, 25-19, 25-23)
Egypt’s Ahly who have ten titles under their name overcame the struggling GSU (KEN) 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-17) as their coach Ibrahim Fakhedeen used most of the substitutes.
Bourj Bouaririj (ALG) trounced APR (RWA) 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-14) in easy ways to put a positive impression since their last time finishing between at final 4 round in 2010 when they finished fourth. Espoir (COD) pulled off a 3-1 (25-18,19-25, 25-19, 25-23) victory over Nemo Star (UGA).
Pool D
Setif (ALG) v Support Unit (ZIM) 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-12)
Somoha (EGY) v Ahly Beni Ghazi (LIB) 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 29-27, 25-23)
Prisons (KEN) v Kampala (UGA) 3-0 (29-27, 25-13, 25-15)
Algeria’s Setif beat Support Unit (ZIM) 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-12) in their ambitions to improve their fifth place finish in 2014. Somoha (EGY) beat Ahly Beni Ghazi (LIB) 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 29-27, 25-23) in a fluctuating standards throughout the thrilling match.
Prisons (KEN) beat Kampala (UGA) 3-0 (29-27, 25-13, 25-15) in a match that showed a great competition in the first set and there after the Kenyans dominated the match completely.
Day 2 schedule
(ATM) Autoridade (MOZ) x (ATL) Atletico Clube (CPV) Pool A
(PRI) Prisons (KEN) x (SET) Etoile Sportive Setif (ALG) Pool D
(KAV) Kampala Amateur (UGA) x (AHB) Ahly Benghazi (LBA) Pool D
(NEM) Nemo Stars (UGA) x (AHE) Ahly Club (EGY) Pool C
(ASD) AS Douanes (BUR) x (IRT) Ittihad Riadi (MAR) Pool A
(EST) Espérance Sportive (TUN) x (NAH) Alnahada (SUD) Pool B
(GSU) General Service Unit (KEN) x (APR) Armée Patriotique (RWA) Pool B
(SWE) Swehly Sport (LBA) x (FAP) Forces Armées Police (CMR) Pool C
(SUZ) Support Unit (ZIM) x (SMO) Smouha (EGY) Pool D
(ESS) Etoile Sportive Sahel (TUN) x (HMD) Daim Hamad (SUD) Pool A
(ESP) Volley Club Espoir (COD) x (BOR) NRBB Arreridj (ALG) Pool C
(FAR) Forces Armées R. (MAR) x (ZAM) Zamalek (EGY) Pool B
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