The national men and women beach volleyball teams leave the country on Saturday night to take part in the second and final qualifiers of this year’s beach volleyball continental cup slated from June 21-28 in Agadir City, Morocco. The four pairs, two in each gender category, depart Kigali at 1:30 am aboard a Turkish Airlines flight.  Rwanda will be represented by two teams in the women’s qualifiers including Charlotte Nzayisenga and Valentine Munezero, as well as Benitha Mukandayisenga and Seraphine Mukantabana. Meanwhile, Olivier Ntagengwa, Patrick Kavalo Akumuntu, Venuste Gatsinze and Fils Habanzintwari will represent the country in the men’s fray.

According to head coach Jean Paul Mana, the teams are prepared for the continental showpiece where they hope to perform well and qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A total of 24 men’s teams and 17 women teams will compete for the sole continental spot for the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer. Participating teams: Men: Benin, Botswana, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Women: South Africa, Cap Vert, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, DRC, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Zambia.