Play-off 5-8 Positions

Kenya            2-3                 Rwanda

Cameroon    3-0                 Botswana

Today, 5-6 position playoff

Rwanda        vs                    Cameroon

Rwanda men's volleyball team beat Kenya 3-2 in the play off 5 to 8 positions at the ongoing Men’s African Nations Championship in Cairo yesterday.

Rwanda beat Kenya 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 15-13) and will meet Cameroon for the 5 to 6 positions.

Kenya dominated the first set 25-17 against Rwanda but Rwanda regained rhythm to lead 16-13 against Kenya in the second set. Rwanda made it 1-1 after winning 25-22.

In the third set, Rwanda and Kenya went to 21-21 before Kenya won it 28-26 to lead 2-1 but Paul Bitok’s side fought in the fourth to lead 22-13 and went on to win the set 25-15 to draw 2-2 against Kenya. The Rwandan side went on to win the last set 15-13.

It was the second time Rwanda beat Kenya this year after defeating them in the All Africa Games qualifiers in Kigali 3-0.

In 2011, Rwanda beat Kenya 3-2 while Kenya beat Rwanda 3-0 for the bronze medal at the All Africa Games held in Mozambique.

In the FIVB World Cup qualifiers last year, Rwanda also defeated Kenya 3-2 in Kigali.

After the game, the national team captain Christophe Mukunzi hailed his team for the teamwork that won them the game. "I am happy my teammates gave their best to win the game. We tried to minimize our mistakes and to play well.”

"We are facing Cameroon which is a good side but we will give our best to win the game. It will be one of the hardest games because our opponents are strong but we are ready for the game,” he added.

Cameroon overcame Botswana 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-17) in the other 5-8 position playoff game. Cameroon thrashed Rwanda 3-0 in the group stages.

The finalists of the continental tournament will qualify for the 2015 FIVB Men’s World Cup in Japan from September 8-23.