Final clash

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photo: Sherif Mahmoud

THE AFRICAN Volleyball Championship comes to an end today and hosts Egypt and defending champions Tunisia are the favourites to play in the final.

Egypt whitewashed South Africa 3-0 on Sunday for its fourth straight win while Tunisia did the same against Sudan 3-0, again for a perfect 4-0 record.

Egypt won its opening match, needing more than two hours to beat Cameroon 3-2 in a thrilling five-setter. Tunisia had an easy win against Rwanda 3-0 in the opener, which saw the Nigerians thrash Botswana 3-0, while Morocco defeated Sudan 3-1.

Egypt also beat Botswana 3-0. Nigeria edged South Africa 3-2, Rwanda defeated Sudan while Tunisia beat Morocco 3-1.

Ten teams are divided into two groups of five each in the one-week event. Cameroon, Botswana, South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt clashed in Group A while Rwanda, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia and Congo competed in Group B. The top two in each group play each other in the semi-finals. All games are being played at Cairo Stadium's indoor complex.

The winner of the African championship qualifies for the newly created world championship, a six-team Grand Champions Cup, which will take place in November in Japan.

An African congress in Sharm El-Sheikh starting tomorrow follows the African championship.