Morocco and Mozambique one step away from Tokyo

Morocco and Mozambique are just one step away from becoming the fourth African country to send a men’s beach volleyball team to the Olympics as the nations will meet in the deciding series of the region’s Continental Cup Finals on Sunday, in Agadir, Morocco.

A best-of-three series between the two teams from each country will be played to determine which national federation will be awarded the right to represent Africa in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. South Africa (Athens 2004 and London 2012), Angola (Beijing 2008) and Tunisia (Rio 2016) are the three men's African nations that have already competed at the Games.

For the second day in a row, Morocco relied on 2019 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship veterans Mohamed Abicha and Zouheir Elgraoui to hand them a golden set win. And for the second day, they delivered, defeating Gambia’s Sainey Jawo and Mbye Jarra 2-0 (21-13, 21-18) in the deciding match to guarantee the hosts a place in the final.

Mozambique were in control all day as the country won both of its matches against Ghana. Two-time FIVB World Championship veteran Aldevino Nguvo and his partner Jose Mondlane started the day with a 2-0 (21-19, 24-22) victory over Amanor and Akan while Ainadino Martinho and Monjane needed all three sets (23-21, 19-21, 15-11) to prevail over Essilfie and Tstatsu.

Australia and Indonesia fight for the ticket in Thailand

In the Thai city of Nakhon Pathom, Australia and Indonesia are the two countries heading into the last day of the Asian Continental Cup Finals. A playoff between these two nations on Sunday will determine which of them qualifies for the Tokyo Olympics.

Australia had the less complicated day among the two as it advanced to the final with two victories against Iran. In the first match, 2018 Commonwealth Games winners Damien Schumann and Christopher McHugh downed Bahman Salemi and Arash Vakili 2-0 (21-14, 21-18). In the second one, Max Guehrer and Zachery Schubert needed all three sets (19-21, 21-14, 15-11) but defeated Rahman Raoufi and Abolhamed Mirzaali to confirm the Aussies a place in the last day of the event.

Indonesia’s path was more dramatic as, for the second day in a row, the country needed a golden match to progress. The day didn’t start well for the Indonesians as their top team of Mohammad Ashfiya and Candra Rachmawan was upset by New Zealand’s Thomas Hartles and Alani Nicklin in two sets (25-27, 18-21).

Gilang Ramadhan and Danangsyah Pribadi kept the Indonesian hopes alive with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) triumph over the O’Dea brothers Sam and Ben and a mixed formation of Ramadhan and Candra got the job done against Hartles and Nicklin, winning the golden match 2-1 (24-26, 21-13, 15-13).

Mexico and Canada to clash in Colima

In Colima, favorites Mexico and Canada won their semifinal series and will meet Sunday with the NORCECA (North America, Central America, Caribbean) Olympic ticket in play in their Continental Cup Finals.

Playing at home, the Mexicans secured a pair of wins against duos from Puerto Rico to make it to the final. Rio 2016 Olympians Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros started the day strong with a 2-0 (21-7, 21-17) victory over Kevin Rodriguez/Cristian Encarnacion while youngsters Jose Rubio and Josue Gaxiola needed all three sets (18-21, 21-14, 15-9) but ended the series against Josue Rivera and Juan Carlos Ribas.

Canada needed just one win to advance as Nicaragua’s Jefferson Cascante and Denis Lopez were forced to forfeit their match against Ben Saxton and Grant O’ Gorman due to injury. Sam Pedlow and Rio 2016 Olympian Sam Schachter sealed the Canadian victory with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-10) win over Ruben Mora and Dany Lopez.

Venezuela and Argentina in contention in South America

In South America, the duels between countries feature not a best-of-three but a best-of-five series of matches. Venezuela and Argentina advanced from the semifinals and will meet in the last day of the Continental Cup Finals in Santiago, Chile.

Venezuela were the first to qualify as the country eliminated hosts Chile by winning three of the first four matches. Two of these triumphs came by the hands of Hernan Tovar and Rolando Hernandez while London 2012 Olympian Jesus Villafane and his partner Jackson Henriquez won once in their two matches.

Argentina advanced with a similar 3-1 scoreline over Uruguay. Leo Aveiro and Bautista Amieva were the Argentinean heroes on day one as they won both of their matches while the country’s top team of Nicolas Capogrosso and Julian Azaad lost the first but came back to win the second and qualify their country to the final.