Congratulations to these 2 hardworking teams from Africa!
Cameroon’s ‘Lions’ achieve the impossible dream with a ticket to Men’s World Championship.
Having come through a real qualifying thriller in their capital Yaounde to secure their ticket to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014, Cameroon’s volleyballers waved their national flag proudly as they danced around the packed hall in front of their adoring fans.
The fact that a lion mascot was on hand to join in the celebrations was very fitting, as the team had once again proven just why they are known as the ‘Indomitable Lions’ during the qualifying tournament. The team, under the guidance of German coach Peter Nonnenbroich, emerged triumphant from a seemingly forlorn situation to qualify for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014 from August 30 to September 21.
Among those sharing the outpouring of great joy was Adoum Garoua, the country’s sports minister, and the famous Roger Milla, African footballer of the last century. They were present in the hall to congratulate Jean- Patrick Ndaki Mboulet and company in a clear statement of just how important this triumph is for the entire country. Equally important was the announcement from Garoua that the team and the Cameroon Volleyball Federation were to receive the equivalent of about US$100,000 in support.
“I came on behalf of the government, the President of the Republic, and on behalf of other Cameroonians to tell you congratulations,” Adoum Garoua told the players and their coaching staff in the locker room.
“You go to the World Championships, where the best teams of the world are playing, and thanks to you the image of our country is enhanced. After football yesterday, today is volleyball.” Last November, the national football team qualified for the World Cup Finals in Brazil.
For long periods of the qualifying campaign, it did not look as though there was going to be such a happy ending for the national volleyball team. After a laborious 3-1 opening win against Nigeria, the hosts and favourites suffered a surprising 3-1 defeat against Rwanda on day two of the qualifying tournament. “I hardly slept after that loss. I just watched the video of the match against Rwanda over and over,” said coach Peter Nonnenbroich, highlighting the severity of the situation. “My guys found it difficult to cope with the pressure in the first couple of matches. However, when it was all or nothing, they were on the ball. The emotion shown by the players and fans was incredible.”
Cameroon beat the previously unbeaten Algerians 3-0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-15). Despite this win, the World Championship ticket still appeared to be out of reach, until Nigeria came to their rescue on the final match day.
The Nigerians took a set from Algeria (3-1) and Cameroon secured the obligatory 3-0 win against Gabon in the final game of the tournament to trigger the wild celebrations. With three teams boasting a record of three wins and one defeat, Cameroon ultimately held a better set ratio (2.5) than Algeria (2.25) and Rwanda (1.5). As such, Cameroon will now make its third appearance at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014, having previously qualified in 1990 (15th) and 2010 (13th).
The team made history at the last championships in Italy four years ago. The crowd favourites overcame Australia 3-1 to claim the first ever victory for a central African country at a World Championship, progressing to the next round in the process. This year’s finals in Poland could see a repeat of that duel with Australia. As the third highest-ranked African team in the world, Cameroon looks likely to play against the hosts Poland, Argentina, Serbia, Australia and Venezuela in Pool A.
However, that will only be the case if the best-placed African team in the world rankings, Tunisia, qualifies as expected. Tunisia is both the host and hot favourite at the last African qualifying tournament from March 2 to 8, when they will battle it out against Seychelles, Congo Brazzaville, Senegal and Niger for a ticket to the World Championship.
Kenya is currently hosting the first women’s contest for the African tickets to FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014, as Nairobi welcomes Seychelles, Uganda, Tunisia, Senegal, Mozambique and Cape Verde.
The conclusion of the tournament in Kenya will pave the way for the next qualifying round, which will see Algeria host Botswana, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Egypt in Pool T from February 23 to March 2. Africa will be represented by two women’s teams in the FIVB Volleyball Women World Championship, which is to be held in Italy from September 23 to October 12.
Currently 18 of the 24 teams for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014 have been confirmed: Bulgaria, Serbia, Germany, Belgium, Finland and France qualified at the beginning of this year.
They are joined by hosts Poland, Olympic champions Russia and Italy from Europe, Australia, Iran, China and Korea from Asia, Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil from South America and Egypt and Cameroon from Africa. Countries in the NORCECA confederation must wait the longest to discover their fate, with four qualifying tournaments (each with four teams) scheduled for May and June in the USA, Cuba, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as a continental play-off from July 9 to 14.
Cameroon have already secured their place at the highlight of the season. This is all the more remarkable, as the team had to overcome some major difficulties during their preparations for the qualifying tournament.
In Cameroon, volleyball is sometimes played on cement or tarmac courts. Financially, the national team players are not exactly born with a silver spoon in their mouths. German coach Peter Nonnenbroich initially arrived in Cameroon as an FIVB instructor, taking charge of the Cameroon ladies team at the 2006 World Championship. Those in charge of sporting issues in Cameroon were delighted with his efforts, and Nonnenbroich has subsequently led the men’s national team to the FIVB World Championship in 2010 and now 2014.
The Cameroonians now have their sights set on achieving the impossible at the highlight tournament of the volleyball season in Poland. As sports minister Garoua rightly noted, “In sport, it is a matter of believing in yourself.”
Egypt’s Pharaohs overcome all obstacles to claim ticket to men’s World Championship.
When Egypt’s volleyball stars returned to Cairo a good hour after midnight with their ticket to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014, which was achieved at the tournament in Kenya, they were greeted by a large reception committee.
As well as thrilled fans and family, high-ranking representatives from the country’s Ministry of Sport, the National Olympic Committee and, of course, the national volleyball federation had also turned up to show their appreciation. Volleyball is one of the most successful and popular sports in the land of the pyramids. Only last year did the Pharaohs – as the national team is known – claim its fifth consecutive African crown and seventh in total.
This was just one sign of the huge importance that the team’s successful qualification is for the country. The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Poland 2014 will take place from August 30 to September 21.
Egypt is currently going through a difficult period, and the national volleyball team provided a perfect example of how it is still possible to overcome even the greatest of difficulties. Having previously competed at the prestigious FIVB event on seven occasions – 1974, 1978, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 – the team qualified for the fifth time in a row courtesy of a flawless 4-0 record. Egypt also became the first African team to secure its ticket to this season’s highlight event.
The performance is all the more incredible, given the fact that six of the best and most experienced Egyptian volleyball stars were missing at the qualifying tournament. Negotiations with their clubs to allow them to join the team failed, as did attempts to change the date of the qualifying tournament. Among those missing were Ahmed Salah, the top spiker in the 2011 World Cup, setter Abdallah Abdelsalam, the best server in the world at the 2005 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup, and Mohamed Badawy one of the best receiving players on the team.
With the tournament staged in Kenya and not Egypt, as was originally considered, the hot favourites travelled to the qualifying tournament in Kenya with just one playmaker and a significantly weakened team. The Pharaohs arrived in Nairobi four days prior to their opening match, in order to acclimatise to the altitude of over 1,600 metres. Their early arrival paid off as Egypt faced hosts Kenya first in what many anticipated as the decisive game. However, the Egyptians withstood this test of character in front of 5,100 passionate fans, calling on all their experience gained at such prestigious events as the FIVB World League to come through 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 25-20).
“You have to excuse the Kenyan team because they were playing Egypt, a team with a lot of experience,” commented Egyptian head coach, Nour Attia. Gideon Chenje, Kenya’s men’s volleyball coach, threw in the towel after that opening defeat: “I do not believe we have a chance, as I don’t think Egypt will lose any of their remaining three matches.” And he was proven right. Egypt did indeed book their ticket to the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship with 3-0 victories against Zambia, Botswana and Cape Verde. The team finished in first position with a win-loss ratio of 4-0, followed by Kenya with a record of 3-1. Botswana ended their campaign in third place (2-2), while Cape Verde finished fourth (1-3) ahead of Zambia (0-4).
“We were the favourites coming into the tournament and we expected to qualify for the World Championship,” said Egypt captain Saleh Youssef, already looking ahead to the highlight of the season. “After this, the big challenge is to make our mark at the World Championship in Poland.” The team’s best result in its previous seven outings came in 2010, when they produced one of the strongest performances by an African country, finishing 13th in Italy. The Pharaohs went out in the second round after defeating Iran, but narrowly missing out to Japan.
At the forthcoming championships in Poland, the Egyptians look likely to play in the strong Group C in Danzig, which could potentially include Olympic champions Russia, Bulgaria, Canada, China and a team from the NORCECA confederation. However, that will only be the case if the best-placed African team in the world rankings, Tunisia, qualifies as expected.
Tunisia is both the host and hot favourite at its qualifying tournament, scheduled to take place from March 2 to 8, when they will battle it out against Seychelles, Congo Brazzaville, Senegal and Niger for a ticket to the World Championship. The destination of the third African ticket will be decided in Cameroon in the coming days. The hosts will take on Algeria, Nigeria, Rwanda and Gabon from February 12 to 18.
Kenya will also host the women’s contest for the African tickets to the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014, as Nairobi welcomes Seychelles, Uganda, Tunisia, Senegal, Mozambique and Cape Verde from February 16 to 23. The conclusion of the tournament in Kenya will pave the way for the next qualification round, which will see Algeria host Botswana, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Egypt in Pool T from February 23 to March 2. Africa will be represented by two women’s teams in the FIVB Volleyball Women World Championship, which will be held from September 23 to October 12.
Of the 24 teams taking part in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, 17 have now already been confirmed: Bulgaria, Serbia, Germany, Belgium, Finland and France qualified at the beginning of this year. They are joined by hosts Poland, Olympic champions Russia and Italy (Europe), Australia, Iran, China and Korea (Asia), and Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil (South America). Countries in the NORCECA confederation will take part in four qualifying tournaments (each with four teams) scheduled for May and June in the USA, Cuba, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as a continental play-off from July 9 to 14.
With their ticket to the World Championships in the bag, the Pharaohs are already on the safe side.