Kyoto, Japan, May 15, 2025 – Noumory Keita and Abdel-Aziz Nimir delivered outstanding performances with 25 and 23 points respectively to lead Al-Rayyan Sports Club of Qatar to a thrilling 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-20) victory over Kazakhstan’s Aqtobe in the quarterfinals of the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League at Shimadzu Arena on Thursday.
Al-Rayyan, bolstered by a trio of international stars featuring Mali’s Keita, the Netherlands’ Nimir, and Slovenia’s Tine Urnaut proved too strong for the 2025 Kazakhstan Cup champions. Keita, who previously scored 22 points in the Pool D match against Vietnam’s Sport Training Center3, led the match again with 25 points, including 20 attacks and 5 aces. Nimir added 23 points, while Urnaut contributed 11. Nikita Shvalev led Aqtobe with 15 points, including 12 kills.
“I didn’t practice for about a week before coming here. I just started training upon arrival,” said Keita, who stands at 206 cm. “But I believe I can give my best in the semifinals. Today, I tried to manage my body and stay fit. We all pushed ourselves because we want to be ready for the semifinals. It’s a pleasure to play with Nimir and Tine, guys I watched as a kid. Playing alongside them now is a dream come true. They are role models who help me grow and gain experience.”
Al-Rayyan came out strong in the opening set, combining the offensive power of Keita, who boasts a 383 cm spike reach, and Nimir to dominate the scoreboard. Keita’s powerful serves created havoc for the Kazakh side, leading to multiple service aces. Despite spirited efforts from Russians Nikita Shvalev and Aibat Netalin, Aqtobe struggled to penetrate Al-Rayyan’s solid defense, eventually conceding the first set.
The second set began with both teams evenly matched, but Al-Rayyan soon pulled away as Keita continued to deliver explosive spikes and aces. While Aqtobe’s Nodirkhan Kedirkhanov and Shvalev managed to earn points, a series of unforced errors hindered the team’s momentum. Keita and Nimir’s offensive firepower proved too much as Al-Rayyan took the second set convincingly.
Aqtobe rebounded in the third, showing resilience and determination. They tightened their blocking and exploited gaps in Al-Rayyan’s defense, keeping the scoreline close. With the set tied at 23-23, a service error by Al-Rayyan substitute Dahi Mubarak and a decisive spike from Aqtobe sealed the set for the Kazakh side.
Al-Rayyan quickly regained control in the fourth set. Keita and Nimir continued their dominant form, supported by effective blocking from Urnaut and Papemachette Diagne. Despite a late fightback from Aqtobe, Al-Rayyan maintained their rhythm and closed out the set and the match in commanding fashion.
With this victory, Al-Rayyan, holders of 13 Qatar Cup titles, 16 Emir Cup crowns, consecutive West Asian Club Championships in 2023 and 2024, and runners-up finishes at the 2013 and 2014 Asian Club Championships, remain unbeaten in the competition. The team are now just one win away from securing a berth at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship and two wins from clinching the prestigious continental title.
Click the link below for match schedule, results and photos
https://asianvolleyball.net/new/2025-avc-mens-champions-league/
QUICK LINKS
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
Mikasa Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/mikasasports_official
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.