Six clubs booked their qualification tickets for the quarterfinal of the 2015 Men’s African Club championship after the competition day 4 held at Olympic and Masaken Halls on Wednesday. Hosts Etoile Sporive du Sahel (Tunisia), Egyptian giants Ahly, Zamalek and new comer Somoha with Algeria’s Borj Bouaririj and Morocco’s Ittihad Tangier confirmed their top eight positions one day before the end of the preliminary round leaving the last two spots for day 5 on Thursday.
The six qualified teams were all keeping their victory rhythm making the full win- loss ratio of 4-0, but among them only Etoile Sporive du Sahel, Ahly of Egypt and Tangier kept the record of not dropping a set till now.
Pool A ranking was settled with Etoile Du Sahel and Ittihad Tangier confirming quarterfinal tickets, Douanes (Burkina Faso) and Autoridade (Mozambique) playing for the 9 to 16 positions, Atletico (Cape Verde) and Daim Hamad playing for 17-24 standings.
In Pool B Zamalek confirmed their quarters ticket, while Esperance of Tunisia and FAR of Morocco fight for the second ticket, while all the other teams fight for the other positions.
Pool C featured two qualifiers for the top 8 Ahly Egypt and Bourj Bouaririj of Algeria. Espoir confirmed 9 to 16 brackets, while the other three teams wait for their final standings.
In Pool D Somoha (Egypt) qualified in their first ever participation leaving Setif (Algeria) and Prisons (Kenya) will be fighting for the second slot. Ahly Beni Ghazi (Libya) confirmed 9-16 play off leaving KAVC (Uganda) and Support United of Zimbabwe for the 17 to 24 standings.
The competition acts also as a qualifier for the 2015 FIVB Men’s World Championship in Brazil next October.
Pool A
Etoile Sportive du Sahel (TUN) v Douanes (Burkina Faso) 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-9)
Auroridade (Mozambique) V Daim Hamad (Suden) 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13)
Ittihad Tangier (Morocco) v Atletico (Cape Verde) 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-14)
Etoile Sportive du Sahel (TUN) overpowered Douanes of Burkina Faso 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-9) to clinch a quarterfinal ticket. Etoile improved their wi- loss ratio to 4-0 leaving Douanes at 2-2. Etoile used the experience of their stars Ahmed Kadhi (12 points) and Marouan Garci (14 Points) to penetrate their opponent defence to win the match easily.
Ittihad Tangier (Morocco) took over Atletico (Cape Verde) 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-14) in a match lasting 65 minutes. The winners dominated the net action due to the superior performance of their star Ismail Ouchadi who scored 12 points for his team. The Moroccan team improved to 4-0 to qualify for the quarters leaving Atletico for the last positions with 0-4.
Auroridade (Mozambique) needed 105 minutes to overwhelm Daim Hamad (Sudan) 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13) in a highly competitive match. Sudan’s attacker Suliman Kodi impressed the attendances with his superior performance as they came back from 2-1 to 2-2 and scored 31 points making the competition’s best scoring performance in one match so far. Auroridade’s Fernand Muvunga was a key factor of the victory as he was his team’s best scorer with 25 points followed by Miguel Carrier 20. Autoridade improved to 2-2, while Daim Hamad dropped to 0-4.
Pool B
FAR (Morocco v FAP (Cameroon) 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22)
Esperance (Tunisia) v Swehly (Libya) 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-20)
Zamalek v Alnahda of Sudan 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-6)
Zamalek overcame Alnahda of Sudan 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-6) in one side game lasting 62 points to confirm the top position of the pool and qualify for the quarterfinal. It was nothing than full dominance for the 5 time African champions. The Egyptian team improved to 4-0 and Nahada dropped to 0-4.
FAR of Morocco topped FAP of Cameroon 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22) in a thrilling encounter lasting 110 minutes. The Moroccan team became 3-1, while FAP dropped to 1-3.
Esperance of Tunisia stunned Swehly of Libya 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-20) to improve to 3-1 and need to win their last match in the group stage against Morocco’s FAR to confirm their qualification, Swehli became 1-3.
Pool C
Espoir (Congo RD) v GSU (Kenya) 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-17)
Ahly (Egypt) v APR Rwanda 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-19)
Bourj Bouaririj (Algeria) v Nemostars (Uganda) 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-14, 25-12)
Ahly Egypt beat APR Rwanda 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-19) in 56 minutes to confirm the finals spot, beside keeping their straight sets victory rhythm. APR dropped to 1-3 and wait for their last position in the pool during the last day when they meet Espoir.
Bourj Bouaririj (Algeria) defeated Nemostars (Uganda) 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-14, 25-12) to confirm the second pool ticket in the quarters. The Algerians reached 4-0, as the Ugandans dropped to 0-4.
Espoir of Congo RD surprised GSU Kenya to achieve a ground breaking victory 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-17) in a crucial Pool C match that featured a great performance form the Congolese team. They improved to 2-2 while GSU stayed at 1-3.
Pool D
KAVC (Uganda) v Support United (Zimbabwe) 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 25/27, 25-22, 15-7)
Prisons (Kenya) v Ahly Beni Ghazi (Libya) 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 26-24)
Somoha (EGY) v Setif Algeria 3-1 (27-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-19)
Somoha (EGY) cruised past Setif of Algeria 3-1 (27-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-19) in a pool leader decider lasting 101 minutes. The match of the day showed highly exciting fighting for each point till the Egyptian team won using their strong service and efficient blocks. Somoha improved to 4-0, while Setif became 3-1 and had to wait till the last day to confirm their top 8 positions when they meet Ahly Beni Ghazi.
Prisons of Kenya defeated Ahly Beni Ghazi of Libya 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 26-24) in a match reaching its optimum thrills in the third set when the Libyan team fought aggressively before Prisons came back to overcome the 5 point deficit and catch the straight sets victory. Prisons became 2-2 and still had hopes of the finals ticket while Ahly Beni Ghazi will play for the 9 to 16 of the standings.
KAVC (Uganda) defeated Support United (Zimbabwe) 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 25/27, 25-22, 15-7) in Pool D at Men’s African Club Champs
Day 5 schedule on March 12
A 09:00 (ASD) AS Douanes (BUR) x (ATM) Autoridade (MOZ)
D 10:00 (AHB) Ahly Benghazi (LBA) x (SET) Etoile Sportive Setif (ALG)
B 11:00 (NAH) Alnahada (SUD) x (SWE) Swehly Sport (LBA)
D 12:00 (SMO) Smouha (EGY) x (KAV) Kampala Amateur (UGA)
C 13:00 (APR) Armée Patriotique (RWA)x (ESP) Volley Club Espoir (COD)
C 14:00 (BOR) NRBB Arreridj (ALG) x (AHE) AHLY CLUB (EGY)
A 15:00 (HMD) Daim Hamad (SUD) x (ATL) Atletico Clube (CPV)
B 16:00 (EST) Espérance Sportive (TUN)x (FAR) Forces Armées R. (MAR)
C 17:00 (GSU) General Service Unit (KEN)x (NEM) Nemo Stars (UGA)
A 18:00 (IRT) Ittihad Riadi (MAR) x (ESS) Etoile Sportive Sahel (TUN)
D 19:00 (SUZ) Support Unit (ZIM) x (PRI) Prisons (KEN)
B 20:00 (FAP) Forces Armées Police (CMR)x (ZAM) Zamalek (EGY)
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