Cameroon sealed Africa’s sole ticket to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games when they defeated Egypt 3-2 in the final of the Women’s Volleyball qualifiers on Tuesday night in Yaoundé.
Cameroon’s win comes at the time when the Volleyball fraternity was still getting used to the fact that it wasn’t Kenya and Algeria in the final after the two were knocked out by Egypt and Cameroon respectively on Monday.
The home side rallied to a 25-14 lead, and when it looked like they were extending that lead, Egypt’s net defense and service came in hand as they leveled matters 27-25.
With the Palais Des Sports Hall not full to capacity, the small crowd rallied behind the home team but they lost the third set 25-21, before bouncing back to win the fourth 25-23 to force a tie breaker in the process.
The former continental giant didn’t appear in the tie breaker as Cameroon dictated proceedings, they led 5-1, by the time the two teams changed sides it was 8-4.
At 10-5, Egypt could neither be saved by their service, block nor attack, 10-5, Cameroon led, and at 12-7, they didn’t look back as they sealed the set 15-7.
Kenya’s Malkia Strikers, flew past Algeria 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, and 26-24) to claim bronze.
Kenya and Egypt qualified to play at the World Olympic qualifiers against Colombia and Puerto Rico with the winner making the trip to Brazil this August.
Final Ranking
1-Cameroon
2-Egypt
3-Kenya
4-Algeria
5-Botswana
6-Tunisia
7-Uganda