Federation Egyptienne de Volleyball

2006 Women under 21 African Nations Championship:

2006 Women under 21 African Nations Championship-

Final Day
Egypt Champions, Seychelles the black hoarse, Tunisia for bronze

Alexandria, Egypt, September 20-: After Egypt Junior team secured the title of the eleventh Women’s Under 20 Volleyball African Nations Championship for the second time in a raw, before the end of the competition and hence clinched the World Championship vacancy of this age category, the black hoarse of the competition Seychelles continued their surprises to defeat Tunisia in a thriller five sets match considered one of the best in the five nations tournament to clinch the silver medal from the experienced Tunisian team who got the Bronze medal.

Senegal ended the competition in the fourth position following their victory over Nigeria who came at the bottom of the table.

This is the third qualification for Egypt to the 2007 age category World Championships following their Boys’ under 19 and Men’s under 21 counterparts who have already secured their qualifications last month. Tunisia has already qualified to both Boys’ under 19 and Girls’ under 18 World Championships.

Seychelles were the actual stars of this competition as they came from the first defeat against Egypt in the opening day to achieve three successive victories ended by the most exciting against Tunisia in the competition final day on Wednesday in a very thrilling five set match (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 15-13). Seychelles players did their best to stop the Tunisian attacks by the net and their solid backline defense was the star of the match. Sechelles Player Maya Jione played a great role in the victory through here strong service and she was chosen already the competition best server.

Senegal achieved their only victory in the competition over Nigeria 3-1 (11-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21) to clinch the fourth position leaving Nigeria in the fifth and last position.

Final Ranking:

1. Egypt 8 points.

2. Seychelles 7 points

3. Tunisia 6 points.

4. Senegal 5 points.

5. Nigeria 4 points.

Individual Prizes:

· Best Spiker: 11. Marwa Yassin (Egypt)

· Best Blocker: 14. Hagar Badr (Egypt)

· Best Server: 6. Maya Jione (Seychells)

· Best Libero: 16. Ranya Gouini (Tunisia)

· Best receiver: 1. Nahla Sameh (Egypt)

· Best Setter: 2. Marwa Barhoumi (Tunisia)

· Most Valuable Player (MVP): 16. Nada Ayman (Egypt)

Egypt beats Tunisia and qualified to the World Championship
Alexandria, Egypt, September 19-: Egypt Junior team made it third qualification to the 2007 age category World Championships for their country when they ended a marathon against their Arch Rivals Tunisia 3-2 after thriller performance that made the spectators on their toes for more than two hours on the fourth day of eleventh Women’s Under 20 Volleyball African Nations Championship at Union club hall in Alexandria, Egypt on Tuesday. The victory secured the cup of the competition for the Egyptians and hence the 2007 World Championship vacancy to follow the footsteps of their Boys’ under 19 and Men’s under 21 counterparts who have already secured their qualifications last month. Tunisia having already qualified to both Boys’ under 19 and Girls’ under 18 comes in the second position of the standings.

Seychelles ensured their role as the black hoarse of the competition when they achieved their second victory over Senegal in another exciting five set match to become near the bronze medal for the first time in their history before the competition final day on Wednesday.

It was really the day of thrills and mouth watering matches featuring two games ending in a tie break and lasting about five hours of exciting volleyball. The match between Egypt and Tunisia is considered a final of the competition which still has two matches to end and thus it went very narrowly all through till Egypt had the lead in the critical time during the tiebreak (25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-9). The organizers used the support of the spectators at the Union Club Hall to win the first set narrowly 25-22 after good fight from the Tunisian team specially in defense. Tunisia made it 1-1 in the second set when they used the emerging players to stop the Egyptian attacks through their solid block and won the set 25-22. Again Egypt had the lead 2-1 after they won the third set 25-19 more comfortably when their coach made some changes in the rotation rhythm and the team adjusted their block against the Tunisian attacks. The match reached a peak of thrills in the fourth set when Tunisia won the fourth set narrowly 26-24 to make it 2-2 and extend the match to tiebreaker. Egypt adjusted their backline defense again to lead all though the tiebreak and win 15-9 securing the cup and the World Championship vacancy.

It was really another surprise from the new comers Seychelles when they clinched their second victory over Senegal in another marathon lasting about 135 minutes and won 3-2 (17-25, 23-25, 25-11, 25-15, 16-14). Seychelles team showed modern volleyball using the high spirit of the players who were more motivated to win the match.

By the end of the competition fourth day Egypt lead the table with eight points out of four matches as they ended their matches, followed by Tunisia and Seychelles with 5 points in three matches and then Nigeria and Senegal three points in three matches.

The competition last day will feature on Wednesday two matches which will determine the position from second to fifth as Tunisia meets Seychelles for the second and third positions while Nigeria meets Senegal for the fourth and fifth positions.

Day Three

The emerging Seychelles sets first surprise, Egypt continue the winning rhythm
Alexandria, Egypt, September 18-: The emerging Seychelles team sets the first competition surprise when they defeated the experienced Nigerian team in straight sets in the third day of eleventh Women’s Under 20 Volleyball African Nations Championship at Union club hall in Alexandria, Egypt on Monday. The organizers and defending champions Egypt had also a straight sets victory over Senegal to secure their position at the top of the standings in absence of their compatriots Tunisia who were in a day of. It is well known that the winners of the competition will secure the 2007 World Championship African vacancy of this age category.

It was really a great surprise from the new comers Seychelles when they clinched a straight sets victory (25-19, 25-20, 25-20) over the experienced Nigerian team who were the runner up of the last competition in their homelands in 2004. Seychelles played with very high spirit and used the emerging youngsters specially Solana, Manuela and Maya to penetrate the undisciplined Nigerian block and backline defense and get the historic victory which allowed them to leave the bottom of the table for and advance to the fourth position.

The organizers Egypt used the support of the spectators in the Union Club Hall to overcome the highly motivated Senegal players who were the Bronze medalists in the last competition in straight sets (25-9, 25-15, 25-16) in less than an hour. Again the Cuban head coach of the Egyptian team Juan Martinez used his outstanding line up led by the high performance of the middle player Hagar Badr and wing spikers Salma Badr, Nada Mahmoud and Marwa Yassin so that Senegal team couldn’t catch the match.

By the end of the competition third day Egypt lead the table with six points out of three matches followed by Tunisia four points from 2 matches, then comes Seychelles 3 points in 2 matches and Nigeria 3 points in 3 matches and finally Senegal 2 points in 2 matches.

Competition day Four will feature the most important match between Egypt and Tunisia on Tuesday which is considered as a final of the 5 nations’ Tournament where the winner will be the African champions and the continental representatives in the 2007 World Championship of this age category. Senegal also meets Seychelles in a match known to determine the bronze medalists of the competition.

Second Victory for the Great favorites Egypt and Tunisia

Alexandria, Egypt, September 17-: The competition big favorites Egypt and Tunisia clinched their second victory in the second day of the eleventh Women’s Under 20 African Nations Championship at Union club hall in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday to ensure their usual positions as pioneers of the African volleyball. The organizers and defending champions Egypt had a straight sets victory over Nigeria easier than expected while the new look Tunisia defeated the will Built Senegal team after better struggle from the losers. It is well known that the winners of the competition will secure the 2007 World Championship African vacancy of this age category.

The highly motivated Egyptian youngsters managed their situation well all through the match to pull of a wide victory over the previous runner up Nigeria 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-20). The Cuban head coach of the Egyptian team Juan Martinez used his outstanding line up to control the net through the high performance of the middle player Hagar Badr and wing spikers Salma Badr and Marwa Yassin. After Egypt swept the first two sets in less than 35 minutes, Nigeria came to the match very late through their fast attacks by the net to come near but finally Egypt won the set 25-20 to achieve their second victory and lead the standings with the point ratio ahead of Tunisia which achieved also their second victory.

The skillful Tunisian team brought their victory over Senegal in straight sets (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) in about an hour of efficient spikes of the front line players as well as the adjusted backline defense.

`Competition day three will feature two matches as Egypt meets Senegal aiming to secure their leadership to the competition in absence of their Arch Rivals Tunisia who will have a rest day on Monday, while Nigeria plays Seychelles seeking a ranking position

2006 Women under 21 African Nations Championship- Day one
The Favorites Tunisia and Egypt achieved first victories
Alexandria, Egypt, September 16-: Two of the big favorites Tunisia and Egypt achieved both their first victories in the opening day of the eleventh 2006 Women’s Under 20 African Nations Championship at Union club hall in Alexandria, Egypt. The organizers defeated Seychelles while Tunisia had a harder victory over the solid Nigeria. The winner of the competition will secure the 2007 World Championship vacancy of this age category.
The organizers and defending champions Egypt swept the new comers Seychelles 3-0 (25-11, 25-9, 25-16) in less than an hour. The winners used the skillful setting by the setter Sama and here colleagues Hagar Badr in the centre blockand Marwa Yassin in the wing spiker. Tunisia was superior in net actions when they beat Nigeria 3-1 (25-23, 2426, 25-13, 25-13) in an exciting match lasting 91 minutes. The first two sets were very competitive when Nigeria used their solid block to stop the strong Tunisian hits to reach to 1-1 in sets before Tunisia were superior in the third and fourth sets to win the match 3-1.Competition day two will feature two very competitive matches as Egypt meets Nigeria in a repeated final of the last competition, while Tunisia plays Senegal.

The Favorites Tunisia and Nigeria meet in the opening

Alexandria, Egypt, September 15-: Two of the big favorites Tunisia and Nigeria will meet face to face in the opening day of the eleventh 2006 Women’s Under 20 African Nations Championship which will be hosted at Union club hall in Alexandria, Egypt. The organizers also play the emerging Seychelles in their target to defend their title they achieved two years ago in Nigeria. The winner of the competition will secure the 2007 World Championship vacancy of this age category.

The competition will be a great battle between the biggest forces of this age category including the defending champions, Egypt, the big favorites Tunisia, the last competition runner up Nigeria, the 2004 Bronze medalists Senegal and the new comers Seychelles.

The competition will be held in a round robin format between the participating five teams.

Egypt team had good preparation during last two months under supervision of the Cuban coach Luis Martinez who will lead the Egyptian first team also in the 2006 World Championship in Japan aided by the Egyptian assistant coach Emad Nawar. The team had a camp in the Olympic centre in Cairo since the start of July till they shifted the camp to Alexandria since a week to finalize the preparation. The team includes some first team players as led by Hagar Badr, Nahla Sameh and Menat allah as well as some of the younger age players who participated in the Girls Under 18 African Nations championship in Algeria last August.

Tunisia will be as usual one of the big forces competing for the World Championship vacancy after their Girls under 18 and Boys under 19 counterparts clinched the prestigious qualification to the FIVB events. The Tunisian team will depend on four players from the team that won the Girls under 18 African Nations Championship in Algeria last month after mouth watering final against Egypt ended in five sets.

Nigeria had good preparation last month and depends on the new generation that will lead the country in the next year’s senior African Nations championship as well as defending their gold medal in the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria.

Senegal also is a promising team as they depend on a new generation with the remains of the team that achieved the bronze medal in the last competition in Nigeria 2004.

Big battle for 2007 World Championship spot

Alexandria, Egypt, September 14-: five African teams will compete together for the last age group World Championship vacancy this year when they battle for the sweet spot on the eleventh 2006 Women’s Under 20 African Nations Championship to be held in Alexandria, Egypt 15-20 September at Union club hall which hosted the 2006 World Championship qualifications last year. The winner of the competition will secure the 2007 World Championship vacancy of this age category.

The competition will feature all the big forces of this age category including the defending champions, Egypt, the big favorites Tunisia, the last competition runner up Nigeria, the 2004 Bronze medalists Senegal and the new comers Seychelles.

Egypt team prepared well during the past two months under supervision of the Cuban coach Luis Martinez who will lead the Egyptian first team also in the 2006 World Championship in Japan aided by the Egyptian assistant coach Emad Nawar. The team had a camp in the Olympic centre in Cairo since the start of July till they shifted the camp to Alexandria since a week to finalize the preparation. The team includes some first team players as led by Hagar Badr, Nahla Sameh and Menat allah as well as some of the younger age players who participated in the Girls Under 18 African Nations championship in Algeria last August.

Tunisia will be as usual one of the big forces competing for the World Championship vacancy after their Girls under 18 and Boys under 19 counterparts clinched the prestigious qualification to the FIVB events. The Tunisian team will depend on four players from the team that won the Girls under 18 African Nations Championship in Algeria last month after mouth watering final against Egypt ended in five sets.

Nigeria had good preparation last month and depends on the new generation that will lead the country in the next year’s senior African Nations championship as well as defending their gold medal in the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria.

Senegal also is a promising team as they depend on a new generation with the remains of the team that achieved the bronze medal in the last competition in Nigeria 2004.

By Tarek Al Adwar CAVB Press Officer