Egypt crowned African champions to book a World Cup berth

Abdalla Abdel Salam the best setter

30 September 2011

Tangier, Morocco, September 29, 2011 – Egypt was crowned African champions following their thrilling victory over giants Cameroon 3-1 (20-25, 25-28, 25-20, 25-22) in the final of the 2011 Men’s African Nations Championship held in Tangier, Morocco on Thursday.  Egypt secured a ticket to the 2011 FIVB World Cup set to take place in Japan from November 20 to December 4.

 The African champions will now move onto the Olympic qualifying event, with the top three from there earning a berth at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

 Egypt achieved an unpreceeded record of wining the title for the fourth in row and a total of 6 crowns, but they still behind Tunisia who has eight trophies under their name and deprived Cameroon from gaining their third cup

 Meanwhile Tunisia returned back to podium after being out two years ago when they were ranked fifth as they outlasted Algeria 3-1 (28-26, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22) in the bronze medal match.

 The final was attended by Tangier Governor Hassar, CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani, Morocco Volleyball Federation President Abdelhadi Ghzali, Local organizing committee president Lahcene Chater, CAVB Vice President Majore Timba and Board members Mory Keita and Hassan Ahmed as well as a lot of the local authorities.

Final Match

Egypt Beat Cameroon 3-1 (20-25, 25-28, 25-20, 25-22)

 Defending champions Egypt succeeded to keep the African title on their homelands after the down the struggling Cameroon team 3-1 (20-25, 25-28, 25-20, 25-22) in a fantastic final in front of 3000 Moroccan spectators most of them supported Egypt.

 “We didn’t expect this big support from the Moroccan spectators who made us fell as if we are playing at home,” Said Egypt coach Sherif El Shemerly happily after the match.

 “I’m very happy to achieve my first title with the senior national team after a lot of achievements with the youth and Junior teams and now we are looking forwards to represent Africa in the World Cup. I’m happy with the performance of all my players because most of them apply our a strategy against a strong team like Cameroon.” He added.

 Cameroon started the match as the better side when they used the spikes of Jean Ndaki from position 2 and Didier Sali in position 4 to lead 8-5 at the first TTO. Egytp team made a lot of reception and service mistakes that allowed Cameroon to stay ahead 16-12 in the first technical timeout. Although Egypt struggled to come back through the well known spike service of Ahmed Salah and Abdalla Abdel Salam, but Cameroon palyers became highly motivated to win the set and they made it 25-20.

 Egypt started the second set with organized line up and succeeded to come back 4-1 for Cameroon to lead for the first time 8-7 at the first TTO. Cameroon came back through the quick attacks of Zamgum Nongny and Sem Dolegombai to lead narrowly 16-15 at the second TTO. Mohamed Abdel Moneim and Saleh Fathy started working from position 4 with the combinations of their skilful setter Abdalla to win the set 25-18 after a group of mistakes form Cameroon team in spiking and receiving.

 Egypt continued their dominance through the service in the third set while Cameroon coach started to make some substitutions that disturb the unity of the team and Egypt succeeded to use this to win the set 25-20 after three aces from Salah.

 Cameroon emerged back in the fourth set to save the match and their big gun Ndaki hammered the Egyptians with his attacks to lead 8-7. The Egyptian team used the strategy of the quick attacks through the centers Abdel Latif Osman and Rashad Shebl to win the difficult set 25-22. 

Bronze Medal Match

Tunisia beat Algeria 3-1 (28-26, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22)

 Tunisia won the critical points of each set in their way to see off Algeria 3-1 (28-26, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22) in the bronze medal encounter lasting 98 minutes. Tunisia achieved the bronze medal for the

 The match started with a tight competition between both teams with Algeria having the upper hand after leading 8-7 at the first TTO. The match went point by point with both teams deploying their block against the main attackers. Algeria opposite attacker Taoufik Mahdjoubi was prominent in his powerful attacks while his Tunisian counterpart Hichem Kaabi did a good job in his skilful attacks that made his team stay in draw till 20-20. Algeria led again 24-23 with Billel Soualem spikes, but Tunisia saved two set points before Tunisia won 28-26.

 The second set showed Algerian dominance through their better reception and they led 8-5 at the first TTO. The Tunisian team tried to come back through their experienced spiker Nooreddine Hfaied and Hamza Nagga, but Algeria again arranged their combinations using Mahdjoubi and Soualem to lead 16-11 at the second TTO before they continued their wide lead till they won the set 25-19 to draw 1-1.

 The third set again started competitive till the draw 5-5 when Tunisia emerged with the spikes of Kaabi and Ismail Moalla to lead 16-11 at the second TTO. Tunisia led the situation with their good reception to win the set 25-18.

 Algeria struggled to save the match as the coach made some substitutions fielding back the captain Ali Kerboua, but Tunisia were more motivated to win as they used the spike service of Nagga and Moalla to win several popints beside the fast attacks through the centers to win the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.

Individual Awards
•Best Setter: Abdalla Abdel Salam (EGY)
•Beast Libero: Rafik Djoudi (ALG)
•Best Digger: Anwer Taouerghi (TUN)
•Best Blocker: Sem Dolegombi (CMR)
•Best Server: Ahmed Salah (EGY)
•Best Spiker: Jean Ndaki (CMR)
•Most Valuable Player MVP: Ahmed Salah (EGY)