Tunisia return to Los Angeles after earning Olympic berth

Playing at home, Tunisia emerged as the winners of the 2026 Men's Volleyball African Nations Championship on Friday and confirmed their return to the Olympics by claiming the continent's berth in the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Pushed by thousands of fans in their country's capital, Tunis, the home side dominated the 13-team tournament and secured their 12th continental title and the fourth in the last five editions with an undefeated campaign.

Ranked 30th in the world, the Tunisians, who had defeated Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Morocco on their way to the final, met Cameroon in the gold medal match and triumphed 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-19) to the delight of their home fans.

Outside hitter Oussama Ben Romdhane was pivotal in the Tunisian victory, leading the team with 19 points (12 kills, four aces and three blocks). Opposite Ali Bongui added another 11, with ten kills and one ace.

The continental success takes Tunisia back to the Olympics after the country's men's national team missed the Paris 2024 Games.

In Los Angeles, the African champions will make their eighth Olympic appearance - and their seventh since the Los Angeles 1984 Games, when they celebrated their only victory at the Games to date and ranked ninth.

The two finalists will be joined by Algeria at the 2027 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Cup. The North African nation ranked third at the African Nations Championship after topping Morocco 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-18) in the bronze medal match and claimed the last spot in next year's event in play in Tunis.

CAVB Men's Volleyball African Nations Championship: schedule and results

With Tunisia's qualification, the list of men's national teams guaranteed in the LA 2028 Games increased to five. Besides them, hosts the United States and Brazil, Cuba and Japan, which won their continental qualifiers, are also confirmed.

The fifth and last continental qualifier, the European Championship, will be concluded on Saturday. After that, three of the six remaining spots will be awarded at the  2027 World Cup and another three through the FIVB World Ranking.

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