Africa’s road to Los Angeles begins in Tunis. All results of Day 1 and more…
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The road to Los Angeles 2028 begins in Tunis for African men’s volleyball, where 13 national teams will compete from September 15 to 25 for the most valuable prize in the continental game: a direct qualification spot for the Olympic Games.
The African Championship carries an additional reward. Alongside the continental title and the Olympic berth, the three medal-winning teams will qualify for the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup in Poland, making the tournament one of the most important events on the African volleyball calendar.
The hosts Tunisia started their campaign in Group A alongside Ghana and Kenya, with the group winner earning a particularly valuable reward: direct qualification for the quarterfinals.
Tunisia entered the tournament as the second-highest ranked African team at No. 44 in the world, behind Egypt at No. 27. Yet it is the hosts who own the continent’s richest championship history, with 11 African titles, seven silver medals and two bronze medals.
The team is once again be led by Italian coach Camillo Placi, who brings considerable international experience to a side looking to return to the top of Africa.
Placi’s Tunisia arrive in Tunis with an impressive recent chapter already behind them.
At the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in the Philippines, Tunisia topped their group in Pasay City after defeating the Philippines and Egypt while also collecting a defeat, finishing with six points. Their decisive final group match came against Egypt, whom they swept 3–0 (25:19, 25:18, 25:22) to secure first place and a place in the round of 16.
The final point of that victory was particularly memorable, with middle blocker Mahdi Ben Taher producing the block that completed Tunisia’s perfect finish to the group stage.
Ben Taher, 2.04m tall, is one of the young players who has become an important part of Tunisia’s recent rise. He also provides an interesting international connection, having previously played in Bulgaria before continuing his club career in France.
Tunisia ultimately finished 12th at the 2025 World Championship after losing to Czechia in the round of 16 — their best global campaign in years and an indication that the hosts arrive at their home continental championship with ambitions extending well beyond simply reaching the knockout rounds.
They will need to improve on their performance at the previous African Championship, however. Tunisia failed to reach the podium in 2023, ending a run of medal finishes that had stretched back to 2009.
Defending champions Egypt will attempt to prevent Tunisia and the rest of the field from taking the continental crown. They are in Group B alongside Morocco and Gambia, while Group C features Algeria, Chad and Nigeria. Group D is the only four-team pool, bringing together Rwanda, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and DR Congo.
The competition format guarantees that every team will reach the knockout phase, but the route will be different depending on the group position.
The winners of Groups A, C and D advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the remaining ten teams will contest five round-of-16 matches for the other places in the last eight.
That format makes every group match important, particularly for the teams fighting to avoid the additional knockout round.
The tournament itself has already had an unusual journey.
Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was originally scheduled to host the championship, but health-security concerns connected to the Ebola epidemic forced the event to be moved to Tunisia. The competition was subsequently postponed by ten days.
Now the uncertainty surrounding the venue is over and the attention turns to the court.
For Tunisia, playing at home offers the chance to reclaim a title they last won in 2021 and restore themselves to the top of African volleyball. For Egypt, it is an opportunity to defend their crown. And for the rest of the field, the tournament represents a rare chance to challenge the traditional continental powers.
But behind every medal is an even bigger prize.
When the new African champion is crowned on September 25, that team will not only celebrate continental supremacy. It will also hold a direct ticket to Los Angeles 2028.
For 11 days in Tunis, the entire African volleyball hierarchy will be at stake!
And, with first day of the competition completed, in Pool A, Tunisia opened their campaign with a convincing straight sets win over Ghana, partially 25:17, 25:21 and 25:22.
The day started with a Pool B match, in which defending champions Egypt lost first set but eventually managed to win against Gambia by 3-1 (26:28, 25:18, 25:15, 25:22), and continues with two straight sets wins: Algeria sweep Chad 3-0 (25:13, 25:22, 25:16) in Pool C, while favorite cameroon easily won against Congo also 3-0 (25:12, 25:21, 25:16).
Close the picture a clean 3-0 (25:14, 25:9, 25:14) win of Rwanda over Central Africa in a game valid for Pool D.
IN PROGRESS
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🏐| CAVB Men’s African Nations Volleyball Championship | Tunis 2026 | Pool Stage:
Tuesday September 15, 2026
• POOL B | 9.00 (Local Time) | Egypt – Gambia 3-1 (26:28, 25:18, 25:15, 25:22)
• POOL C | 12.00 (Local Time) | Algeria – Chad 3-0 (25:13, 25:22, 25:16)
• POOL D | 15.00 (Local Time) | RD Congo – Cameroon 0-3 (12:25, 21:25, 16:25)
• POOL A | 18.30 (Local Time) | Tunisia – Ghana 3-0 (25:17, 25:21, 25:22)
• POOL D | 21.00 (Local Time) | Rwanda – Central Africa 3-0 (25:14, 25:9, 25:14)
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
• POOL C | 9.00 (Local Time) | Chad – Nigeria
• POOL D | 12.00 (Local Time) | Rwanda – RD Congo
• POOL B | 15.00 (Local Time) | Gambia – Morocco
• POOL A | 18.30 (Local Time) | Tunisia – Kenya
• POOL D | 21.00 (Local Time) | Central Africa – Cameroon
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Thursday September 17, 2026
• POOL C | 9.00 (Local Time) | Nigeria – Algeria
• POOL A | 12.00 (Local Time) | Kenya – Ghana
• POOL D | 15.00 (Local Time) | Central Africa – RD Congo
• POOL B | 18.30 (Local Time) | Morocco – Egypt
• POOL D | 21.00 (Local Time) | Cameroon – Rwanda
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