Teams supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme reached the podium at the 2023 CAVB Men’s African Nations Championship with Egypt leading the way following a 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22) win over Algeria to reclaim the title the country last won in 2015.
Volleyball Empowerment beneficiaries Libya (Coach Ghazi Koubaa) settled for continental bronze after beating Cameroon 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-15) on Wednesday. The FIVB has invested CHF 72,000 in 12 months of coach support in Libya.
The men’s national team of Egypt (Coach Flavio Gulinelli) is also supported by coach support via the FIVB’s revolutionary programme of Volleyball Empowerment with a total investment of CHF 144,000.
In the final played on Wednesday night at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt had to dig deep to beat Algeria, a team they had lost to 3-0 in the preliminary round.
Opposite Haikal Reda led Egypt with 15 points (14 kills, 1 ace) and he was supported by middle blocker Abdelrahman Seoudy and outside hitter Mohamed Mostafa who both tallied 14 points.
Boudjemaa Ikken replied for Algeria with a game-high 21 points (18 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace).
Algeria’s opposite Boudjemma Ikken in action during the final against Egypt
Enroute to the final, Egypt beat Kenya and Morocco in straight sets in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals respectively before edging out Cameroon 3-1 in the semifinals.
Algeria, on the other hand, defeated Ghana in the Round of 16 and Rwanda in the quarterfinals by similar 3-0 margins. Bernaoui Krimo’s men then outlasted Libya 3-2 in a closely contested semifinal to proceed to the final.
Egypt setter Youssef Hossam headlined the tournament’s Dream Team after being named Best Setter and Most Valuable Player. He was joined by teammates Mohamed Asran (second best outside hitter) and Abdelrahman Seoudy (second best middle blocker).
Libya’s Ahmed Ikhbayri emerged best opposite while Cameroon’s Dolgeombai Sem was the best middle blocker. Algeria’s pair of Ilyas Achouri (best libero) and Soufiane Hosni (best outside hitter) completed the tournament’s Dream Team.
The dream team of the 2023 CAVB Men’s African Nations Championship
This year’s edition attracted 15 teams with Gambia being the only debutants. Senegal, who last participated in this tournament in 1979, marked a return to the competition, alongside Chad and Libya.
Libya last featured in the 2017 edition held in Cairo, and Chad’s last appearance was in the 2019 tournament held in Tunisia.
(Photo credits: Samuel Gacharira)
