Sousse, Tunisia, March 8, 2014 - Day 2 of the 2015 African Men's Club Championship saw giants Ahly, Zamalek, Somoha, organisers Etoile Sportive du Sahel, Setif, Borj Bouaririj, and Ittihad Tangier claim second victories. The winner of the 2015 African Men’s Club Championship, which takes place from March 5-17, will also earn a berth at the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship, which will take place in Brazil from October 27 to November 1.
The day featured a thrilling tiebreaker as Algeria's Setif overcame Prisons of Kenya 3-2 (25-12, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 15-4) in the day's best show.
Twelve matches will be taking place on Monday on competition Day 3, with attention focusing on Egypt's Zamalek and Libya's Swehli in the day's action .
Pool A ESS(TUN) v Diam Hamad (SUD) 3-0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-12)
Ittihad Tangier (MAR) v Douanes (BUR) 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-11)
Autoridade (MOZ) v Athletico (CPV) 3-1 (25-27, 25-16,25-19, 25-16)
Etoile Sportive du Sahel (TUN) overwhelmed Diam Hamad (SUD) 3-0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-12) in a Pool A encounter lasting 52 minutes. The winners' coach Harry Brokking used all his players and they dominated throughout the match. Outside hitter Hamza Nagga led the match scorers with 15 points. Etoile improved their win-loss ratio to 2-0 leaving at Hamad 0-2.
Ittihad Tangier (MAR) beat Douanes (BUR) 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-11) to claim their second win. The winners controlled the match through their spike service which disturbed their opponents' reception. They improved their win-loss ratio to 2-0, while Douanes dropped to 1-1. In the last of the pool matches, Autoridade (Mozambique) beat Athletico (Cape Verde) 3-1 (25-27, 25-16,25-19, 25-16). This is the first win for Mozambique representatives who move to a 1-1 win-loss ratio, while Atletico dropped to 0-2.
Pool BEST (TUN) v Alnahda (SUD) 3-0 (25-16, 25-13,25-18)
Swehli (LIB) v FAP (CMR) 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-20)
Zamalek (EGY) v FAR (MAR) 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-20)
Zamalek of Egypt struggled for 107 minutes to beat FAR of Morocco 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-20). After Zamalek was 2-0 ahead, Yannick Shesha helped FAR to a new comeback scoring 20 points to help his team to win the third. The Zamalek stars used their experience to settle the game and take the fourth set. Zamalek improved to 2-0, while FAR dropped to 1-1.
Defending champions Esperance of Tunisia cruised past Alnahda of Sudan 3-0 (25-16, 25-13,25-18) to overcome the stress of losing their opening match against Zamalek. Elias Garfi was a key player in the victory with his 20 points. Esperance improved to 1-1, while Nahda dropped to 0-2.
Swehli of Libya rebounded from their opening loss to beat Cameroon's giants FAP 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-20) and improved to 1-1. FAP also dropped to 1-1.
Pool CGSU (KEN) v APR (RWA) 3-1 (25-18, 25-13, 21-25,25-22)
Ahly (EGY) v Nemo stars (UGA) 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-20)
Bourj Bouarirj (ALG) v Espoir (COD) 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-12)
GSU of Kenya stunned APR of Rwanda 3-1 (25-18, 25-13, 21-25,25-22) in a pool C thriller. The Kenyan team was going to a straight sets victory before they committed a lot of reception mistakes in the third set allowing the Rwandan team to enter the game and narrow the score to 2-1. They rebounded positively in the fourth set to win 3-1. Both teams are on 1-1 win-loss ratio after two matches in the competition.
Ahly (EGY) found it easy to penetrate the Nemostars block to win 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-20) in Pool C. Ahly used all their players in the match and proved their consistency in service. The Egyptian record holders improved to 2-0, while Nemostars are down to 0-2.
Bourj Bouarirj (ALG) beat Espoir (COD) 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-12) in another victory for the Algerians, putting them on two wins from two matches. Espoir dropped to a 1-1 win-loss ratio.
Pool DSetif (ALG) v Prisons (KEN) 3-2 (25-12, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 15-4)
Somoha (EGY) v Support United (ZIM) 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-7)
Ahly Beni Ghazi (LIB) v Kampala (UGA) 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 25-21)
Setif (ALG) fought for two hours to overcome Prisons (KEN) 3-2 (25-12, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 15-4) in the day's only tiebreaker. After losing the first two sets, the Kenyan team rebounded aggressively to win two successive sets using Ibrahim Odindo to score 23 points. Setif improved to 2-0, while Prisons dropped to 1-1.
Somoha (EGY) made it two out of two as they won against Support United (ZIM) 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-7). The Zimbabweans surprised spectators with a great show in the first set, using their outstanding spikers. The Egyptian team, however, lined up their leading players to defeat Support United in straight sets. Somoha are on two wins, while Support are now 0-2.
Finally, Ahly Beni Ghazi (LIB) overcame their opening defeat to beat Kampala of Uganda 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 25-21) in a game full of action. Beni Ghazi are on a 1-1 win-loss ratio, while the Ugandans have dropped to 0-2.