Favourites-Ahly-Etoile-and-Bejaia-remain-unbeaten-at-African-Club-champs
Al Ahly overcame Esperance of Tunisia 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-22) in a scintillating match while Etoile du Sahel beat Nigerian club Sun Shine in straight sets (25-16, 25-22, 25-17) and Algeria’s Borj Bouarirj held off Libya’s Ahly Beni Ghazi also in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-17).
Etoile du Sahel lead Pool A with six points while Ahly top Pool B also with six points. Pool C is dominated by Ahly Tripoli of Libya on five points and Bejaia stand atop of Pool D on six points.
The eventual champions will earn a berth for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship set to be held in Doha, Qatar from October 13 to 19.
The competition will continue on Tuesday with day four featuring nine matches across the four preliminary pools.
Pool A
Hosts Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia secured their third victory in a row on Monday as they held off Nigerian outfit Sun Shine in straight sets. The loss means Sun Shine drop to a 0-2 win-loss record.
Borj Bouaririj of Algeria put on a solid defensive display to beat Ahly Ben Ghazi 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-17). The victory was the second for the Algerian team in two matches, while Ahly Beni Ghazi suffered their second loss in three games.
Pool B
Al Ahly took on Esperance in what was expected to be the closest match of the day, earning a straight sets win, their third victory in a row. For the Tunisian side it was a first defeat in the tournament.
Meanwhile, APR of Rwanda trounced Agosto of Angola 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-14) to resurrect their hopes of a quarterfinal berth as they improved to 2-1 while Agosto dropped to 0-3.
Kenya’s GSU scored their second victory in three matches against Inter of Congo Brazzaville, a straight sets (25-19, 25-17, 27-25) win improving their win-loss ratio to 2-1.
Pool C
Four-time champions Zamalek of Egypt took on 2011 runners-up Kenya Prisons in the Pool C headliner on day four of the competition, picking up a crucial 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-22) win in a match that was expected to be much closer. The win consolidated Zamalek’s grip at the top of the group as they took their winning streak to two matches while Prisons were dealt their first loss.
Ahly Tripoli overcame a slow start to hold of DR Congo’s Force Terrestre 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-18). The Libyan club improved their record to two wins from three to lead the pool while Terrestre dropped to 1-2
Pool D
El Guish of Egypt maintained their rhythm to beat a dogged FAP 3-1 (25-23, 13-25, 25-15, 25-14). For Guish it was their second win while Cameroon’s FAP fall to a 1-2 win-loss record.
Finally, Bejaia of Algeria continued their steady performance to beat Mwangaza of DR Congo 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) to keep their clean sheet 3-0 as Mwangaza dropped to 0-2.
Day 3 Results
Pool A
Borj Bouaririj (ALG) x Ahly Ben Ghazi (LBY) 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-17)
Etoile du Sahel (TUN) x Sun Shine (NGR) 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-17)
Pool B
Al Ahly (EGY) x Esperance (TUN) 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-22)
APR (RWA) x Agosto (ANG) 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-14)
GSU (KEN) x Inter (Congo Brazzaville) 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 27-25)
Pool C
Zamalek (EGY) Prisons (KEN) 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-22)
Ahly Tripoli (LBY) x F Terrestre (Congo RD 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-18)
Pool D
El Guish (EGY) x FAP (CMR) 3-1 (25-23, 13-25, 25-15, 25-14)
Bejaia (ALG) x Mwangaza (Congo RD) 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19)
Day 4 Programme
Pool A
AS Vaora (MAD) x Sun Shine (NGR)
Etoile du Sahel (TUN) x Borj Bouaririj (ALG)
Pool B
Esperance (TUN) x Inter (Congo Brazzaville)
Agosto (ANG) x GSU (KEN)
Al Ahly (EGY) x APR (RWA)
Pool C
Zamalek (EGY) x Ahly Tripoli (LBY)
Prisons (KEN) x Omni Sport (CIV)
Pool D
FAP (CMR) x Manga (Gabon)
Mwangaza (Congo RD) x El Guish (EGY)
