2026 African Volleyball Championships: preparations accelerate in Kinshasa

Just a little over a month separates us from the kickoff of the 2026 African Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place in Kinshasa from September 7 to 21. This is the biggest volleyball competition ever organized in the DRC. Sixteen countries will participate, namely: DRC (host country), Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Zimbabwe. In Kinshasa, preparations are progressing well, even though a few adjustments still need to be made.

Final setup at the Stade des Martyrs gymnasium

The competition will be held in the twin gymnasiums of the Stade des Martyrs, one of which can host up to 3,000 people and the other 2,000. According to the latest information, the gymnasiums will be handed over to the Local Organizing Committee starting August 5 for decoration in the competition’s colors and all the final adjustments.

But an inspection visit by members of the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) and the Local Organizing Committee has already taken place at the venue and was deemed a success. On the federation’s side, everything is being done to ensure the success of this event, just like the highly successful organization of the CAVB Congress held in Kinshasa in 2017.

The DRC wants to make a statement

The delegations will stay in the best hotels in Kinshasa, Patient Tshiaba, event manager for the Local Organizing Committee, told Sports News Africa, indicating that the DRC is already ready.

“The DRC is now ready to host this prestigious CAVB competition. Thanks to the President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the infrastructure acquired after the Francophonie Games enabled us to apply and show the world that Congo is a destination toward which all of Africa can converge. The tourism aspect has also appeared to us as a major asset in securing this hosting. We’re talking here about the luxury hotels in our country, about the culture and the sense of discovery that fascinates those who see and hear about our country from afar,” he said.

To prepare for their competition, the Leopards are, unless things change, set to have a training camp in Slovenia in August, following the Kinshasa stage that started in July.