The semifinals of the Men’s African Volleyball Championship in Cairo, Egypt were both very tense matches as the winners would be qualify for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in Italy and Bulgaria. The four teams in the semifinals were also the four most recent African representatives at the World Championships, so each team knew what to expect from the others.
In the first semifinal, African Zone 1 teams Algeria and Tunisia met. Algeria took a tight first set, which went to extra points 27-25. Tunisia came out in the second set and won in a dominant performance 25-14. The Algerians responded with by taking the third set 25-21 and having a 2-1 set lead. Tunisia fought back in a tight fourth set to win 25-23 to a winner take all fifth set. The fifth set was incredibly tight, even going to extra points, with Tunisia taking it 17-15 to advance to the championship match and also the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
In the second semifinal, hosts Egypt faced Cameroon. The match tight throughout. The Egyptians took the first set 26-24, coming back from 24-23. Cameroon served out to tie the match at 24. Cameroon then spiked out twice to make it 26-24 Egypt. At the end of the second set Egypt had a 23-22 lead. Cameroon appeared to block a ball for a point. The ball which went from the left front across the to the right front appeared to land inside the court. However, the linesperson ruled the ball was out and the referee confirmed the call and Egypt was awarded the point 24-22.
Courtesy ON Sport (Egypt) Youtube page
The Cameroon team was livid and the referee gave a red card to a player on the team (not shown on video), which gave a point to Egypt to win the set 25-22. Egypt were now one set away from the finals. Late in the third set Egypt were ahead 24-21 after an Egyptian tip. Cameroon blocked the first match point to make it 22-24. Egypt then spiked out to make it 23-24 on Cameroon’s serve. On the Cameroon block with the Egyptian serve receive, the second referee on the floor, called the Cameroon block for a center line fault, after the Egyptian back row spiker appeared to twist his ankle after spiking.
Courtesy ON Sport (Egypt) Youtube page
Again the Cameroon team was livid, because twice in the match, the referees made an incorrect decision. Sadly, the call was final and it was the final point of the match, with the Egyptians winning 3-0. Egypt with the win also would be going to the 2018 World Championships.
Results for October 27, 2017
Semifinals
Tunisia 3-2 Algeria (25-27, 25-14, 21-25, 25-23, 17-15)
Egypt 3-0 Cameroon (26-24, 25-22, 25-23)
5th Place Semifinals
Rwanda 3-2 Libya (25-19, 25-18, 12-25, 24-26, 15-13)
Morocco 3-1 DR Congo (23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-20)
9th Place Semifinals
Kenya 3-0 Chad (25-20, 25-21, 25-20)
Ghana 3-0 Botswana (26-24, 25-21, 25-22)
13th Place Match
Nigeria 3-0 Niger (26-24, 25-15, 25-20)
Results for October 28, 2017
11th Place Match
Botswana 3-2 Chad (26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13)
9th Place Match
Ghana 3-0 Kenya (25-22, 25-16, 25-20)
Schedule for October 29, 2017
7th Place Match
DR Congo vs. Libya
5th Place Match
Rwanda vs. Morocco
3rd Place Match (Winner advances to 2018 Men’s World Championship)
Algeria vs. Cameroon
Championship Match
Egypt vs. Tunisia
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