The 2012 31st African Club Championship




    Tunisia is gearing up to host a golden edition of the Men’s African Club Championship, which is set to start in Sousse on Saturday.


    The 31st edition of the competition will also act as the qualification tournament for the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship, with the winners earning a berth for the event, set to be held in Doha, Qatar from October 13 to 19.


    Twenty-two of the strongest clubs on the continent will compete at the tournament. They will be led by defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt who have a record 10 crowns to their name.


    Clubs from Egypt have won five out of the last six editions of the tournament and Al Ahly will be hoping to hold off rivals Zamalek, who have won four titles, and Talaea El Guish who were the bronze medallists at the last competiton.


    Hosts Tunisia will be represented by three teams led by Sfax who have won five titles, the last in 2005, as well as Esperence (three titles) and Etoile du Sahel (two titles).


    Other contenders include Cameroon's FAP, Libya's Ahly Tripoli and Algeria's Bejaia.


    The technical meeting of the competition will be held on Friday where the participating teams will be divided into four preliminary pools. Each pool plays a round robin format teams qualifying for the quarterfinals. Afterwards the competition will continue in a knock out forma.

    The defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt was drawn in the tough pool B along with GSU (KEN), APR (RWA), Agosto (ANG), Inter (Congo Brazzaville) and Esperance (TUN) after the drawing of lots of the 2012 Men’s African Club Championship due to start here in Sousse, Tunisia on Saturday.


    The drawing took place at Royal Salem Hotel where the 21 teams were divided into 4 preliminary pools to play in a round robin format.


    The host Etoile du Sahel will line up alongside Borj Bouaririj (ALG), AS Vaora (MAD), Ahly Ben Ghazi (LIB) and Sun Shine (NGR) in Pool A.


    Meanwhile the last competition runner up Prisons face Ahly Tripoli (LIB), F Terrestre (Congo RD), Zamalek (EGY) and Omni Sport (CIV).


    Last time bronze Medallists El Guish (EGY) take on FAP (CMR), Bejaia (ALG), Mwangaza (Congo RD) and Manga (Gabon).


    The drawing of lots was attended by CAVB President Dr. Amr Elwani, CAVB Vice Presidents Munir Ben Slimane and Issiaka Sawadogo, Local Organizing Committee President Lanouar Issa Referee delegates Hassan Ahmed and Djawad Barada, SOC Delegate Morakinyo and CAVB Executive Director Howyda Mondy and most of the Tunisian federation board.


    The eventual champions of this competition will earn a berth at FIVB Club World Championship held in Doha, Qatar from October 13 to 19.


    Twenty one of the strongest clubs on the continent will compete at the tournament. They will be led by defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt who have a record 10 crowns to their name.


    Clubs from Egypt have won five out of the last six editions of the tournament and Al Ahly will be hoping to hold off rivals Zamalek, who have won four titles, and Talaea El Guish who were the bronze medallists at the last competiton.


    Hosts Tunisia will be represented by three teams led by Sfax who have won five titles, the last in 2005, as well as Esperence (three titles) and Etoile du Sahel (two titles).


    Other contenders include Cameroon's FAP, Libya's Ahly Tripoli and Algeria's Bejaia.


    Pool composition


    Pool A: Etoile du Sahel (TUN)- Borj Bouaririj (ALG)- AS Vaora (MAD)- Ahly Ben Ghazi (LIB)- Sun Shine (NGR)


    Pool B: Al Ahly (EGY) - GSU (KEN)- APR (RWA)- Agosto (ANG)- Inter (Congo Brazzaville)- Esperance (TUN)


    Pool C: Prisons (KEN) - Ahly Tripoli (LIB) - F Terrestre (Congo RD) - Zamalek (EGY) - Omni Sport (CIV)


    Pool D: El Guish (EGY) - FAP (CMR) - Bejaia (ALG) - Mwangaza (Congo RD) – Manga (Gabon)


    Day 1 Programme


    Pool A


    Ahly Ben Ghazi (LIB) x Sun Shine (NGR)


    Etoile du Sahel (TUN) x AS Vaora (MAD)


    Pool B


    APR (RWA) x GSU (KEN)


    Al Ahly (EGY) x Inter (Congo Brazzaville)


    Pool C


    Prisons (KEN) x Ahly Tripoli (LIB)


    Omni Sport (CIV) x F Terrestre (Congo RD)


    Pool D


    El Guish (EGY) x Manga (Gabon)


    FAP (CMR) x Bejaia (ALG)

    Day 1 Results


    Pool A
    Ahly Ben Ghazi (LIB) x Sun Shine (NGR) 3-1 (29-27, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18]
    Etoile du Sahel (TUN) x AS Vaora (MAD)


    Pool B
    Esperance (TUN) x Agosto (ANG) 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-19)
    GSU (KEN) x APR (RWA) 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-23)
    Al Ahly (EGY) x Inter (Congo Brazzaville)


    Pool C
    Prisons (KEN) x Ahly Tripoli (LIB)
    Omni Sport (CIV) x F Terrestre (Congo RD)


    Pool D
    El Guish (EGY) x Manga (Gabon)
    FAP (CMR) x Bejaia (ALG)

    Semi:

    Etoile du Sahel TUN - Al Ahly EGY 2523 2624 2523

    Zamalek EGY - Borj Bou Arririj ALG 2325 2522 2519 2514