The Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) has announced that classification matches for positions 17 to 32 will not be played during the upcoming 47th edition of the Men’s African Club Championship in Kigali. The decision was confirmed in a statement released by CAVB Board on Wednesday, following a revision of the competition format. The move comes as the continental governing body seeks to accommodate a record number of teams registered for the 2026 edition, scheduled from April 22 to May 3. ALSO READ: REG land wild card for CAVB Champions League A total of 37 clubs from across Africa expressed interest in participating—well above the usual cap of fewer than 25 teams—prompting CAVB to adopt an expanded 32-team format. Under the new structure, teams will be divided into eight groups of four, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the knockout stage. However, due to time constraints, CAVB has decided to scrap classification matches for teams finishing between 17th and 32nd place—a notable departure from previous editions, where all final positions were determined through play-off matches. ALSO READ: Which clubs are coming to Kigali for CAVB Championship? Instead, final rankings for these positions will be determined through a combined ranking system, in line with the 2024 CAVB Competition Regulations. Despite this adjustment, some placement matches will still be played, particularly at the quarter-final and semi-final stages, to determine key standings within the competition. The championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship, will be held at BK Arena and Petit Stade in Kigali.
