Rwanda senior men’s volleyball captain Christophe Mukunzi is excited about returingd to the national team fold ahead of the Men’s African Nations Championship set for July 21-30 in Cairo, Egypt.

Mukunzi missed the Zone V tournament in May, a qualifier for the upcoming All Africa Games set for September 4-19 in Congo Brazzaville, but head coach Paul Bitok is excited about his return to the national side.

"It is great to be back on the team. I am looking forward to working together with the rest of the team because we shall use this tournament to prepare for the All Africa Games. We shall try to do our best and I think we shall,” explained Mukunzi.

Left attacker Aimable Mutuyimana has also been summoned to the team following his recovery from a left ankle injury that took him out for more than six months.

Mukunzi said, "It is important to have the experienced players like Yakan (Guma), Marshall (Kwizera) and I back on the team even though we are returning from injury. It is also a chance for the young players to get experience at the continental level.”

The national side is training twice every day at the Amahoro indoor stadium (Petit Stade) and will leave on July 19. This is the first time Rwanda is competing at this event since 2008.

Bitok said, "Competing at the African Nations Championship will also get us back onto the ranking on the continent and this is very important.”

Hosts Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Botswana, Sudan, Kenya, Mauritius and Cameroon are the other countries that will compete at the continental showpiece.