Ninth All-Africa Games in Algiers-Volleyball |20 July 2007
On Wednesday at the Lycée Sportif of Blida, the players of coach Maurice Denys showed no pity for Ghana, whitewashing them 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-14) after exactly one hour of play to keep pace with hosts Algeria in group A with three wins and a defeat.
Victory against South Africa yesterday would probably guarantee them progression to the
knockout phase of the competition, something they had not achieved in past participations in the Games.
Seychelles, playing under the captaincy of Jerina Bonne, have won two more group matches against Congo by walk over and Ethiopia on a 3-2 (25-23, 25-27, 25-17, 20-25, 15-11) score. Their only loss was against hosts Algeria on a 0-3 (16-25, 18-25, 18-25)
score.
While the women's team are looking forward to the next round - knockout phase - of the competition, the men's side will start packing early.
Wednesday's 1-3 (25-20, 19-25, 17-25, 21-25) loss to South Africa condemned Seychelles to early elimination in the competition.
Coach Nichol Lesperance's team lost their first two games 1-3 (25-21, 14-25, 24-26, 15-25) and 0-3 (22-25, 25-27, 20-25) to Algeria and Kenya respectively in their first two matches. The team's only win so far was against Congo when they recovered from a set down to get a 3-1 (25-27, 25-13, 25-23, 25-19) victory.
Captained by veteran Bernard Bijoux, the Seychelles team were to play their final group match against Ghana last night.
By Gerard Govinden in Algiers