Rwanda U21 team will miss this year’s U-21 African Nations Championship, which will run from February 24 to March 2 in Egypt.

Rwandan Volleyball Federation (FRVB) president Gustave Nkurunziza said: "We have many competitions and now we will focus on African Games for men and women indoor volleyball and beach.”

"We are going to concentrate on hosting Zone V and to prepare our teams for the event, so for U21 we will not compete in this year’s African Championships,” he noted. Kigali will host the Men’s Volleyball Zone V group one tournament from May 1 to 6. Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania will take part in the tournament.

The second group will play in Ethiopia from May 7-13 with teams including; Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia. The winners in each group will qualify for the All Africa Games to be held in Congo Brazzaville from September 4 to 19. For the Women’s zonal event, it will be held in Uganda from April 20 to 28 and it will comprise hosts Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Egypt and Ethiopia and two teams will qualify for the All Africa Games.

The Men’s Beach V-ball zonal championships will be staged in Tanzania from April 16 to 20 with teams like Tanzania, Kenya-Rwanda, Burundi, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia expected to take part and the top two teams will earn qualification.

The women’s event will be hosted by Kenya from May 7 to 11 and will attract Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Egypt and Ethiopia.

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