In the fervor of the African Championship held in Egypt, the third round of group stage matches brought some unexpected results, reshuffling the rankings just before the Round of 16(15).
Pool A Shock: Algeria Overthrows Hosts
The standout fixture in Pool A saw the hosts, Egypt, take on Algeria. To the astonishment of many, Algeria clinched the win in straight sets: 25-21, 25-22, and 25-19. This stunning performance ensured Algeria’s dominance, topping Pool A. Egypt settled for 2nd place while Burundi occupied the 3rd spot.
Pool B: Tunisia Remains Unbeaten
Pool B battles witnessed Chad overpowering Mali in straight sets (26-24, 25-17, 25-19) and Tunisia outclassing Tanzania 3-0, with scores that belied the former’s supremacy: 10-25, 13-25, 17-25. These results confirmed Tunisia’s claim to the top spot in Pool B. Chad follows at second, Tanzania at third, and Mali unfortunately lagging in fourth.
Pool C: Libya and Cameroon Steal the Show
Kenya and Ghana’s encounter was a nail-biter with Kenya emerging victorious after five thrilling sets: 23-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-17, 15-11. Meanwhile, the two-time champions, Cameroon, faced a setback as Libya won 3-1, showcasing their might with scores of 25-27, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25. Consequently, Libya towers in the first position with nine points, followed by Cameroon, Kenya, and Ghana.
Pool D: Rwanda and Morocco Make Their Mark
Rwanda’s determination shone through as they soundly defeated Senegal 3-0 with scores of 25-21, 25-16, 25-17. Their sterling performance ensured a comfortable second-place finish in Group D. In another showdown, Morocco emerged triumphant over Gambia with a convincing 3-0 scoreline. Leading the pack, Morocco boasts a pristine 9 points, followed by Rwanda’s 6. Gambia and Senegal, yet to secure a win, are set to play their rescheduled match, initially intended for the 1st round but postponed due to Senegal’s delayed arrival caused by flight issues.
