2007 Men's African Nations Championship:


 Semifinal
Egypt and Tunisia in a classic final
Durban, South Africa, September 22-: Relegating their defeat in the final round robin match against arch rival, Tunisia to the background, Nations Cup titleholders, Egypt, bounced back by effortlessly brushing aside Cameroon in straight sets (25-22; 25-22; 25-18) in their semi- final clash of the African Nations Cup played at the UKZN Westville Campus Sports Centre on Friday. Tunisia defeated the organizers South Africa in the other semifinal.

When the left handed power hitter, Ahmed Abd Ebrahim fired the first salvo off Abdalla Ahmed’s well disguised reverse sets, the Cameroonians quickly realised that they had a fierce contest on their hands.

Cameroonian setters, Robert Samou and skipper, Hadj el Abbas stepped up to meet the challenge. With solid blocking from the Egyptians, Cameroon had to resort to creative ways and means of wearing the blockers down. Quicker and more explosive play became the order of the day, much to the delight of the fans.

Whenever, Egypt’s professional overseas based playmaker, Abdalla, Ahmed needed to side out or stretch his team’s lead , he turned to master blaster Ahmed Sallah who tortured the opposition with his clinical and excruciating power hits that left the Cameroonians at sixes and sevens .

Continuing with their winning ways, Egypt wrapped up the second set by the same margin (25-22) with Sallah once again being the chief destroyer.

The introduction of Jean Pierre Ndongo as an attacker changed Cameroon’s fortunes with the youngster proving to be unstoppable in position 4. Even Egypt’s experienced blockers failed to contain the braid-haired quick setter.

Cameroon could have taken the third set had Ndongo been given the lions’ share of the attack.

Egyptian “wonder boy” Ahmed Sallah came to team’s rescue each time and posted quick points on the board to give Egypt a comfortable lead.

When Sallah changed his strategy from power to soft touches into open spaces, it paralysed his opponents who, without moving a muscle, stood by and watched the ball being grounded.

Ahmed Sallah closed proceedings with a (25-18) score line.

The final of the 2007 African Nations Cup in Durban, South Africa will be a repeat of the 2005 encounter in which the Egyptians locked horns with Tunisia. The Egyptians triumphed in Cairo then with 3-1 victory over the Tunisians.

By Donovan Nair, South Africa Volleyball Federation Press Officer.