Cameroon celebrate their 3-2 win over Tunisia in Pool A of the African Women's Olympic Qualification Tournament at Palais des Sports on Friday
Yaoundé, Cameroon, February 12, 2016 – Hosts Cameroon started their campaign with a 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 29-31, 21-25, 15-6) victory over Tunisia in Pool A, while giants Egypt and Algeria came up with straight-set victories in Pool B of the African Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament at Palais des Sports on Friday.
Cameroon counted on the support of the home crowd to post a comeback in the gruelling tie-breaker. The home team struggled in the tough 128-minute-long clash with Tunisia, who came back aggressively after the coach replaced main setter Maroua Boughanmi with Nihel Kebaier, who led her team to come back after they were down in the first two sets. The Tunisian performance went down in the final set, while Cameroon boosted its game with successful combination plays and solid blocks to secure the victory.
Cameroon’s Moma Laetitia topped all scorers with 20 points, while Rahma Agrebi led Tunisia with 11 points. Cameroon scored 19 points from stuff blocks, against Tunisia’s six.
Meanwhile, Egypt crushed Uganda 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-19) in the opening match in Pool B. Egypt started aggressively in the first two sets but Uganda emerged in the third set, where they led several times before Egypt turned back the tide to clinch the match in straight sets.
Egyptian opposite Aya El Shami led her team with 12 points, followed by outside spiker Nahla Abdefattah with 10 points. Peace Busingye led the losing side with six markers. Egypt dominated the net with a 9-4 block advantage and a 39-13 spike difference.
In the second match of Pool B, Algeria downed Botswana 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-10). Botswana showed a promising performance and led frequently in the first two frames, but Algeria used its experience to overcome the crucial moments and snatch the sets in their favour. Algeria started better and dominated in the third set.
Safia Boukhima led Algeria with 18 points, while Yasmine Abdelrahim added 11 points. Botswana’s Gasekonwe Gaoleseleise posted eight points on a losing effort.
Cameroonian Minister of Sports and Physical Education Bidoung Mkpatt, National Olympic Committee president Hamad Malboum, Control Committee president Majore Timba and Local Organising Committee president Julien Serge attended the opening ceremony.
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Top Scoring Performances
20 - Moma Bassoko of Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
18 - Safia Boukhima of Algeria v Botswana (February 12)
14 - Simone Bikatal of Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
12 - Aya El Shami of Egypt v Uganda (February 12)
11 - Yamine Abdelrrahim of Algeria v Botswana (February 12)
11 - Rahma Agrrebi of Tunisia v Cameroon (February 12)
Top Blocking Performances
6 - Stephanie Fotso of Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
4 - Theorine Aboa of Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
3 - Farida El Askalany of Egypt v Uganda (February 12)
Top Blocking Performances by Team
19 - Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
9 - Egypt v Uganda (February 12)
6 - Algeria v Botswana (February 12)
6 - Tunisia v Cameroon (February 12)
Top Serving Performances
3 - Nahla Abdelfattah of Egypt v Uganda (February 12)
2 - Laetitia Moma of Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
2 - Safia Boukhima of Algeria v Botswana (February 12)
Top Serving Performances by Team
4 - Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
4 - Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
3 - Egypt v Uganda (February 12)
3 - Algeria v Botswana (February 12)
Highest Scorer by Round
Day 1: 20 - Moma Bassoko of Cameroon v Tunisia (February 12)
Highest Set Score
Day 1: Tunisia v Cameroon, 31-29 (February 12)
Highest Scoring Matches
Day 1: Cameroon v Tunisia 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 29-31, 21-25, 15-6) - 217 points (February 12)