Tuesday, September 14
*5th place: Rwanda 1-3 Uganda
*3rd place: Morocco 1-3 Egypt
*Final: Cameroon 1-3 Tunisia
Uganda managed to overcome hosts Rwanda to clinch an impressive fifth place at the 2021 Men’s African Nations Volleyball Championship in Kigali.
The Volleyball Cranes fought from from a set down before sealing a 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-13) at the magnificent Kigali Arena.
The milestone is one of the best Sporting Moment this year for Uganda whose national team was making its debut at the championship.
Right attacker Daudi Okello has been outstanding but coach Shilla Omuriwe Buyingo who was appointed prior to the tournament, will take much credit.
The victory on Tuesday was sweet revenge after the Volleyball Cranes had lost to Rwanda 3-2 in the last group game on September 10th.
On Tuesday, Rwanda took the first set 25-21 but the Volleyball Cranes fought back to win the next three sets including the last (4th) one which they won 25-13!
It has been an impressive outing for Uganda who came second in Pool A after wins over Burundi and Burkina Faso, despite that 3-2 loss to the hosts, to storm the Quarterfinal.
The team then lost to Egypt 3-1 in Quarters in a game Uganda took the first set 30-28.
Uganda then beat DR Congo 3-1 in the first classification game on Monday to set a derby clash with neighbours Rwanda.
Elsewhere, Egypt beat Morocco 3-1 (23-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-18) to win the bronze match as Morocco settled for a fourth place.
In the final, Tunisia were crowned champions for a third time in a row thanks to a 3-1 win over Cameroon (16-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-16).
This is a record-extending-11th title for Tunisia – 1967, 1971, 1979, 1987, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2017, 2019, 2021).
The Awards:
*Best Server – Arthur Kody (Cameroon)
*Best Blocker – Christian Voukeng Mbativou (Cameroon)
*Best Setter – Khalid Ben Slimane (Tunisia)
*Best Attacker – Wassim Ben Tara (Tunisia)
*Best Receiver – Zouheir Elgraoui (Morocco)
*Best Libero – Mohamed Reda (Egypt)
*Most Valuable Player – Mohamed El Hachdadi (Morocco)
Final Rankings:
- Tunisia
- Cameroon
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- Nigeria
- DR Congo
- Kenya
- Mali
- Burundi
- Niger
- Burkina Faso
- South Sudan
- Ethiopia
- Tanzania (disqualified earlier)
Uganda’s Volleyball Cranes Squad at Africa Men’s Volleyball Championship in Kigali, Rwanda:
*Recievers β Gideon Angiro (KCCA), George Aporu (Nemostars), Brian Atuhaire (Sport-S), Allan Ejiet Olokotum (KAVC), Johnson Rukundo (Sport-S)
*Middle Blockers β Sam Engwau (VVC), Bernard Malinga (Nemostars), Emmanuel Okia (Ndejje), Dickens Otim (Sport-S).
*Setters β Marino Oboke (Sport-S), Smith Okumu (Nemostars),
*Right Attackers β Daudi Okello
*Liberos β Emma Elanyu (Nemostars), Sharif Nabanji (OBB)
Coach – Shilla Omuriwe Buyingo