47th African Men’s Volleyball Champions League: Day One – A Tale of Three Clubs and Three Very Different Afternoons

Port Autonome Lead the Way as Cameroon’s Continental Adventure Begins

Thursday in Kigali brought the first real test for Cameroon’s three representatives at the 47th African Men’s Volleyball Champions League, and honestly, the day could not have produced more contrasting emotions had it been scripted.

Port Autonome de Douala got things started in the best possible way. Donald Beyegue’s side faced Rwanda’s REG in what turned out to be a tighter affair than the 3-0 scoreline might suggest. Each set was contested with real intensity, the final margins reading 26-24, 25-23 and 25-23, and that tells its own story. Jackson Fabassou and his teammates had to dig deep, scrap for every point, and refuse to let the occasion get the better of them. They managed all three and walked away with three points that felt thoroughly earned.

The afternoon was considerably harder to watch for supporters of Cameroon Sports. Al Ahly of Egypt are one of the continent’s most decorated clubs, and they showed exactly why on Thursday, rolling through their opponents 3-0 with sets of 25-11, 25-16, and 25-11. There was no shame in facing a side of that quality, but the margin left little room for comfort. Cameroon Sports would need a very different response come Friday.

Litto Team’s opening match fell somewhere between the two in terms of drama, though the outcome was no less painful. Wilsogue Sogue’s side faced Nigeria’s Customs Service in a genuinely competitive match where every set was fought to the wire. They came desperately close, pushing the Nigerians all the way before falling 1-3, with set scores of 25-19, 25-27, 22-25 and 22-25. They won a set, which mattered. But they also left the court knowing that two defeats from three remaining games would end their tournament.