Six clubs progress to African Men's Club Championship quarterfinals

Sousse, Tunisia, March 11 2015 - Six clubs booked tickets for the quarterfinals on Day 4 of the 2015 African Men's Club Championship, including hosts Etoile Sportive du Sahel, Egyptian giants Ahly, Zamalek, newcomers Somoha, Algeria's Borj Bouaririj and Morocco's Ittihad Tangier. The winners of the African Men’s Club Championship will also earn a berth at the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship.

The six qualified teams have all moved to a 4-0 win-loss ratio. Etoile Sportive du Sahel, Ahly of Egypt and Tangier have also won their four matches in straight sets.
 
The Pool A ranking was decided when Etoile Du Sahel and Ittihad Tangier confirmed their quarterfinal tickets. Douanes (Burkina Faso) and Autoridade (Mozambique) will play the 9-16 playoffs, while Atletico (Cape Verde) and Daim Hamad will play the ranking matches for positions 17-24.
 
In Pool B, Zamalek have confirmed their quarterfinal ticket, while Esperance of Tunisia and FAR of Morocco will compete for the second ticket from the group.
 
Pool C already features two qualifiers for the top eight: Ahly of Egypt and Bourj Bouaririj of Algeria. Espoir will participate in the 9-16 playoffs.
 
In Pool D, Somoha (Egypt) have qualified for the quarterfinals in their first ever participation in the competition, leaving Setif (Algeria) and Prisons (Kenya) to play for a second slot. Ahly Beni Ghazi (Libya) will play the 9-16 playoffs, leaving KAVC (Uganda) and Support United of Zimbabwe to take part in the 17-24 ranking matches.   
 
Day 5 of the competition will decide which two teams claim the remaining quarterfinal berths.
 
Pool A
Etoile Sportive du Sahel (TUN) v Douanes (Burkina Faso) 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-9)
Autoridade (Mozambique) V  Daim Hamad (Suden)  3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13)  
Ittihad Tangier (Morocco) v Atletico (Cape Verde) 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-14)
 
Etoile Sportive du Sahel (TUN) overpowered Douanes of Burkina Faso 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-9) to clinch a quarterfinal ticket. Etoile improved their win-loss ratio to 4-0 leaving Douanes at 2-2. Etoile based their game around the experience of their stars Ahmed Kadhi (12 points) and Marouan Garci (14 Points), who showed their ability to penetrate and outwit their opponents' defence.
 
Ittihad Tangier (Morocco) defeated Atletico (Cape Verde) 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-14) in a match lasting just 65 minutes. Ismail Ouchadi helped the winners dominate action at the net, scoring 12 points for his team. The Moroccan team improved to 4-0 to qualify for the quarters, leaving Atletico on a 0-4 win-loss ratio.
 
Autoridade (Mozambique) needed 105 minutes to overcome Daim Hamad (Sudan) 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13) in a highly competitive match. Sudan's attacker Suliman Kodi impressed onlookers as his team came back from 2-1 to 2-2, scoring 31 points - the competition's best scoring performance in one match so far. Autoridade's Fernand Muvunga was a key player in the victory as he was his team's best scorer with 25 points, followed by Miguel Carrier on 20. Autoridade improved to 2-2, while Daim Hamad dropped to 0-4.
 
Pool B
FAR (Morocco v FAP (Cameroon) 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22)
Esperance (Tunisia) v Swehly (Libya) 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-20)
Zamalek v Alnahda of Sudan 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-6)
 
Zamalek defeated Alnahda of Sudan 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-6) in a one-sided game lasting 62 minutes. They confirmed their sport at the top of the pool and qualified for the quarterfinals. The five-time African champions put on a demonstration of their skills and improved their win-loss record to 4-0, while Nahada dropped to 0-4.
 
FAR of Morocco topped FAP of Cameroon 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22) in a thrilling encounter lasting 110 minutes. The Moroccan team moved up to 3-1, while FAP dropped to 1-3.
 
Esperance of Tunisia stunned Swehly of Libya 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-20) to improve to 3-1. They need to win their last match in the group stage against Morocco's FAR to confirm their qualification for the quarterfinals. Swehli have won one match and lost three in the competition.
 
Pool C
Espoir (Congo RD) v GSU (Kenya) 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-17)
Ahly (Egypt) v APR Rwanda 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-19)
Bourj Bouaririj (Algeria) v Nemostars (Uganda) 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-14, 25-12)
 
Ahly of Egypt beat APR Rwanda 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-19) in 56 minutes to confirm a finals spot and maintain their winning rhythm. APR dropped to a win-loss ratio of 1-3.
 
Bourj Bouaririj (Algeria) defeated Nemostars (Uganda) 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-14, 25-12) to confirm the second pool ticket for the quarters. The Algerians are on 4-0 - the Ugandans dropped to 0-4.
 
Espoir of RD Congo surprised GSU Kenya to achieve a ground-breaking victory 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-17) in a crucial Pool C match, which featured a great performance from the Congolese team. They improved to 2-2, while GSU are on 1-3.
 
Pool D
KAVC (Uganda) v Support United (Zimbabwe) 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 25/27, 25-22, 15-7)
Prisons (Kenya) v Ahly Beni Ghazi (Libya) 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 26-24)
Somoha (EGY) v Setif Algeria 3-1 (27-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-19)
 
Somoha (EGY) cruised past Setif of Algeria 3-1 (27-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-19) in a match which decided the pool leaders in 101 minutes. Arguably the match of the day, the encounter was a showcase for both teams' fighting spirit. Somoha improved to a 4-0 win-loss ratio, while Setif dropped to 3-1 and will have to wait for the last day of the preliminary round to confirm their position in the top eight in a match against Ahly Beni Ghazi.
 
Prisons of Kenya defeated Ahly Beni Ghazi of Libya 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 26-24) in a match which reached its climax in the third set, when the Libyan team fought aggressively and Prisons overturned a five point deficit to claim a straight-sets victory. Prisons are on a 2-2 win-loss ratio and will hope to win a finals ticket on Day 5, while Ahly Beni Ghazi will play the 9-16 playoffs.
 
Finally, KAVC (Uganda) defeated Support United (Zimbabwe) 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 25/27, 25-22, 15-7).