Volleyball: why the 2023 Women's African Championship has been postponed
Volleyball: why the 2023 Women's African Championship has been postponed. The main reason is the international calendar.
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Schedule change! The 21st Women's Senior African Volleyball Championship will no longer be held from 06 to 18 August 2023. The competition, due to take place in Cameroon, has been pushed back by a few days. It will now run from 14 to 25 August. The decision to delay the tournament was taken by the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) at the request of the host nation's federation.
According to official sources, the main reason for the date change is the international calendar, which is said to be "overloaded, with numerous competitions scheduled over the coming weeks. Notably the Women's U19 World Championship, which runs from 1 to 11 August [in Croatia and Hungary]. That is, right up against the original start date of the Women's Senior African Championship," said Christian Tchapmi, communications manager of the Cameroonian Volleyball Federation (Fécavolley).
The 2023 Women's Senior Championship is a qualifier for the next World Championship. To that end, Fécavolley wants to give the international experts and officials expected at the Women's U19 World Championship time to travel on to Cameroon without being rushed. That strengthens the case for this slight postponement, requested by the home of the Indomitable Lionesses, three-time reigning African champions. "We wouldn't want the calendar to be squeezed," said Christian Tchapmi.
There were therefore talks between Fécavolley and Cameroon's highest authorities, with the CAVB involved, and it approved the postponement request, he said. He added: "this slight shift does not stop the work of the various commissions set up by the Sports Minister."
What the postponement leaves unsaid
However, some behind-the-scenes observers do not appear convinced by the explanations given. Fécavolley is currently facing a leadership crisis, with two federations, two presidents, two organising committees and two senior women's national teams in Cameroon. Some therefore believe the postponement of the Women's African Championship may have non-sporting motives.
Michel Tadoun, a sports commentator, says Cameroon's sports authorities are looking to buy time to bring this crisis shaking Fécavolley to a definitive end. "It would be better for Cameroon to host a competition of this scale with a federation operating in a favourable climate," he stressed.
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