Champions Al Ahly hammer Prisons to storm semis
What you need to know:
- The North African dominance in the competition once again became clearer, as clubs from the region secured all semi-final slots.
Kenya Prisons were on Thursday night bundled out of the men's Africa Club Volleyball Championship in Tunisia following a straight sets loss to defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt.
As expected, Prisons were humbled 3-0 (25-15, 25-13 and 25-19) by the Egyptian giants, who also are the competition's record champions, in a one-sided game that lasted an hour in Tunis.
Speaking afterwards, Prisons coach Gideon Chenje conceded defeat.
"With a little bit of better blocking from the centre players, then maybe this could have been a different story," Chenje reflected on phone from Tunis.
“But they (Al Ahly) are a far much better side, well prepared and fully professional for that matter. I wish them the best in the remaining games."
The Kenyan champions exited the competition with a 2:2 win-loss ratio in their four matches played in Tunis.
Prisons were beaten 3-0 (25-16, 25-16 and 25-17) by hosts Etoile du Sahel in their opening game, but recovered to defeat Benin's Police 3-0 (25-19, 25-9 and 25-13) and also inflicted another impressive straight sets defeat of 25-21, 25-16 and 25-13 points to Congolese side Espoire in their group D games.
In the meantime, the dominance of North African clubs in the competition once again became clearer, as teams from the region secured all semi-final slots.
In the quarter-finals, Etoile du Sahel edged compatriots Esperance 3-2 (25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 23-25 and 17-15), Algeria's Bouaririj spanked Cameroon's FAP 3-0 (25-21, 25-20 and 25-15) whilst Swehly defeated Assarya 3-0 (25-15, 25-18 and 28-26 in an all-Libyan affair.
