Home Sports Stern Egyptian test for Rwanda in African Tourney Quarters

Stern Egyptian test for Rwanda in African Tourney Quarters

by Bonnie Mugabe
10:37 am

Rwanda men’s volleyball team players celebrate Botswana’s victory on Monday

Rwanda men’s volleyball team hopes to put up a performance strong enough to hurt giants Egypt when both sides meet in the quarter finals of the 2017 Men’s African Volleyball Championship on Thursday at the Cairo Stadium. 

Rwanda powered into the quarter final after defeating both Chad 3-0 (25-20, 25-21 25-15) and Botswana 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-17). 

They failed to extend a good run of results in the last group game against Algeria played on Tuesday afternoon as they lost 0-3 losing the first set 18-25, 22-25 and 21-25 in the second and third sets respectively. 

Despite the loss to Algeria, Rwanda finished second in Pool D with six points while the North Africans secured maximum points. 

A second group finish for Rwanda earned them a quarter final berth against Group A winner Egypt. 

On meeting Egypt, Rwanda men’s volleyball team head coach Paul Bitok said, “It’s a big match facing hosts and defending champions who ranked number one in Africa,” 

“We have no other choice but to face them. Winning is a process and it’s important to play such matches. The last time we played good match with them, who knows we might win if not we shall use the match to get experience,” added Bitok. 

The championship quarterfinals are single elimination with the winners advancing to the semifinals and the losers playing for 5th to 8th place. 

The semifinal winners will book their tickets to Italy/Bulgaria, while the losers will play for the final berth in the 3rd place match. 

This tournament is also acting as the final round of qualifying for the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) for the 2018 FIVB Men’s World Championship to be held in Italy and Bulgaria. The top three finishers will be the African representatives at the World Championships.