Kintélé courts erupt for Zone 4 spectacle
For forty-eight humid hours the beach courts of the La Concorde Complex in Kintélé turned into a festive amphitheatre, welcoming athletes from Congo, Cameroon and the Central African Republic on 4–5 October 2025. Drums, vuvuzelas and family crowds gave the fourth leg of the C.A.V.B. Zone 4 Beach-Volley Tour a carnival heartbeat.
The event’s patron, Colonel Christelle Colombe Bouaka Milandou, praised the setting. “Kintélé shows how sport can unite our youth and project a positive image of the sub-region,” she told reporters before the first serve, applauding the Ministry of Sports for keeping entry free and transport shuttles running.
Congo’s men seize home-sand advantage
Sunday’s men’s final became a statement of intent from hosts Congo. Cheered on by a partisan gallery, the Mazengo/Douala tandem overpowered Cameroon’s Abba/Adji in straight sets, 21-13, 21-16. Their mix of towering blocks and nimble digs left coach Gérard Okemba visibly emotional at courtside.
“We worked on serve precision all week, and it paid off,” Mazengo explained while catching his breath. Douala added that the title “proves Congo can again be a force in continental volleyball, indoors or on sand.” The gold lifts the Red-Green-Gold flag to second place overall in the tour rankings.
Officials noted that Congo had not topped a men’s leg of the Zone 4 circuit since 2019. Inspector General of Sports Charles Dinga called the victory “a boost for our preparation toward the next All-Africa Beach Games,” hinting at additional training camps along the Atlantic coast.
Cameroon produces an all-green women’s final
If the men’s climax was loud, the women’s showdown delivered even more suspense. Two Cameroonian pairs—Irina/Nina and Nzali/Dang—turned the gold-medal match into a tactical marathon stretching to a deciding tie-break. Nzali/Dang finally prevailed 16-21, 21-08, 18-16 after saving two championship points.
Coach Ahmed Diallo credited the depth of Cameroon’s talent pool. “Back home most clubs now maintain beach sections in addition to indoor squads,” he said, predicting that the nation’s women could target World Tour qualification within two seasons.
The podium sweep cemented Cameroon’s leadership in the Zone 4 women’s rankings. First Counsellor Mrs Fonkou Kinko from Yaoundé’s embassy in Brazzaville lauded the players: “They are ambassadors of discipline and resilience, qualities our region needs.”
Medal table reshapes Central African hierarchy
By sunset the final standings placed Cameroon atop the stop with one gold and two silvers, Congo second with one gold and one bronze, and the Central African Republic third thanks to a hard-fought bronze in men’s play. Tour director Parfait Malonga believes the tight figures will intensify the race going into the Libreville leg.
He underlined that every match now influences seeding for the continental finals scheduled early next year, where two Olympic qualifying spots for Paris 2026 will be allocated to Africa. “What happens in Zone 4 matters far beyond our borders,” he said.
Organisation applauded at every level
Beyond medals, the closing ceremony recognised referees, the C.A.V.B. control committee and the youthful ball retrievers, each receiving certificates and equipment bags. Director-General of Sports Jean-Robert Bindélé thanked them for “turning logistics into art under tropical heat”.
Veteran players, some of whom represented Congo at the 1987 All-Africa Games, acted as mentors on site, sharing stories with schoolchildren invited from nearby districts. Their presence served as a living archive of the sport’s local heritage.
Event sponsor Club DGSP provided hydration stations, branded shade tents and an evening concert, illustrating how public-private synergy can elevate sporting experiences. Many spectators lingered well after the trophy photos, dancing to Congolese rumba under floodlights.
Next chapters for the Zone 4 beach caravan
Teams now shift focus to recovery before the fifth Tour stop due in Douala later in the year. Coaches expect windier coastal conditions that could favour big jump-servers. Central African Republic captain Mambo Yango vowed to “return hungrier”, while Congo’s Douala promised to maintain humility despite home success.
The Confederation of African Volleyball plans to stream future matches on its digital platform, expanding reach to the diaspora. As Colonel Bouaka Milandou concluded during closing remarks, “Each set played here is an invitation for young Africans to dream of global podiums.” The Kintélé stop has ensured those dreams feel a little closer.