Volleyball
Most outstanding players in Africa Club Championship
The 47th CAVB Men’s Club Championship reached a thrilling climax on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the BK Arena in Kigali.
As teams battled for continental glory, a select group of elite athletes rose to the occasion, defining the tournament through offensive dominance, defensive resilience, and tactical mastery.
Here are the standout performers who etched their names into the 2026 Dream Team:
Receiver Attacker: Eissa Elhossiny (Al Ahly)
Named both Best Receiver Attacker and Most Valuable Player (MVP), Elhossiny was the heartbeat of the championship-winning side.
He displayed a rare, flawless balance between pinpoint reception and explosive attacking, consistently keeping Al Ahly on the front foot during high-pressure rallies.
Middle Blocker: Frank Shyaka (Police)
Shyaka emerged as the tournament’s biggest revelation. Patrolling the net with relentless energy, the Middle Blocker provided a formidable first line of defence, making it nearly impossible for opposing attackers to find a rhythm against his well-timed blocks.
Opposite: Jose Masso Alvarez (Al Ahly)
The Cuban-born Opposite Attacker was a class apart. Bringing elite experience from the South Korean league, Alvarez provided the Egyptian giants with undeniable firepower.
Averaging 18 points per match, his technical ability to dismantle organised blocks was the X-factor that secured Al Ahly’s continental dominance.
Outside Hitter: Nicholas Matues (REG)
Representing Rwanda Energy Group (REG) Volleyball Club, the Kenyan Outside Hitter was a force of nature.
Matues was instrumental in dragging REG to a podium finish, earning the Best Outside Attacker award for his ability to score in transition and lead his team through a gruelling third-place battle.
Libero: Alain Irakoze (Police VC)
While the highlights often favour the hitters, Irakoze’s performance was nothing short of breathtaking.
Awarded Best Libero, his athleticism and floor coverage were masterclasses in defensive discipline.
His ability to pull off spectacular digs and stabilise the backcourt under heavy fire allowed Police to transition into clinical counter-attacks.
Setter: Brian Melly Kipkirui (Police)
Kipkirui was the architect behind the Police’s impressive run to the finals. The Kenyan setter dictated the tempo of every match with composure and tactical intelligence.
His precision not only maximised his hitters’ efficiency but his aggressive service and net coordination kept opponents perpetually off-balance.
CAVB Men’s Club Championship: Dream Team
| Award | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Eissa Elhossiny | Al Ahly (EGY) |
| Best Receiver Attacker | Eissa Elhossiny | Al Ahly (EGY) |
| Best Opposite Attacker | Jose Masso Alvarez | Al Ahly (EGY) |
| Best Outside Hitter | Nicholas Matues | REG (RWA) |
| Best Middle Blocker | Frank Shyaka | Police (RWA) |
| Best Setter | Brian Melly Kipkirui | Police (RWA) |
| Best Libero | Alain Irakoze | Police (RWA) |
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- Uganda 3-0 South Sudan (25-13, 25-11, 25-11)
Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes have secured a ticket to the African Nations Championship that will be played in Kenya.
Uganda registered a well-deserved 3-0 victory against South Sudan in the CAVB Zone V Qualifiers encounter at Lugogo Indoor Arena on Friday.
The victory means that they secured two victories in as many games played, thus ensuring that they bag a ticket to the continental stage.
Uganda’s agility and athleticism were the edge as they started on the front foot triumphing 25-13 at the end of the opening frame.
In the second frame, South Sudan were poor on the net allowing Uganda to pierced through their poor block at free will. Uganda triumphed 25-11, keeping eyes on the gong.
Uganda sealed off the day with a 25-11 triumph in the final frame as the hosts swept South Sudan with precision and style.
Uganda will now switch its attention to the continental stage after lifting the region’s championship.
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Ugandan national volleyball team wrapped up their regional campaign on a high note, delivering a commanding straight-sets victory (25-18, 25-15, 25-19) over rivals Tanzania.
Despite the dominant performance, the team fell just short of securing a highly coveted ticket to the continental stage.
Uganda finishes the tournament with an impressive record of three victories and just a single loss out of four matches played.
The opening set began as a cagey, neck-and-neck affair as both teams traded early blows.
However, Uganda found their groove midway through the frame, breaking away to establish a comfortable 14-08 lead.
Refusing to take their foot off the gas pedal, the Cranes maintained their composure and clinical execution to take the first frame 25-18.
Any hopes of a Tanzanian comeback were quickly dashed in the second set. Uganda unleashed a masterclass in the service box, catching the Tanzanian defense off guard and racing to a dominant 12-05 lead.
Tanzania struggled heavily to find any rhythm, plagued by unforced errors in both their attack and reception.
Uganda capitalised on their opponents’ disarray, cruising through the one-sided frame to close it out at 25-15.
The third and final frame proved to be one-way traffic. With confidence surging, Uganda dictated the pace from start to finish, ultimately sealing the match with a 25-19 triumph to complete the clean sweep.
”Even though Uganda failed to get the ticket to the continental stage, Uganda secured three victories and suffered one loss in the four games played.”
While the disappointment of missing out on continental qualification will sting, the team’s clinical execution against Tanzania leaves a strong foundation to build upon for future international tournaments.
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- South Sudan 0-3 Uganda
- (13-25, 24-26, 27-29)
Uganda Volleyball Cranes secured a 3-0 victory against South Sudan in the CAVB Zone V Nations Championship Qualifiers at Lugogo Indoor Arena on Tuesday.
Uganda started the tournament with a dominant victory against Burundi, before going on to see off a highly motivated South Sudan.
Despite putting up a big fight, South Sudan struggled to overcome an experienced Uganda side that had several players used to the big stage.
Uganda capitalised on South Sudan’s poor reception as Daudi Okello led Uganda’s electric attack backed up with a loud crowd.
South Sudan missed the presence of prolific opposite Thon Maker Madol who is injured and called the shots from the bench as part of the technical team.
Uganda struggled to conclude the second and third set making unforced errors and pressing the panic button which should be a concern to the technical team.
In the third game of the campaign, Uganda will take on Kenya on Wednesday in the highly anticipated encounter since it’s dubbed the Migingo derby.
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